Diego Costa is fit to lead the line for Chelsea
as they look to extend their perfect start to the
Barclays Premier League season away to
champions Manchester City.

The Spain forward has scored seven goals in
his first four matches in England's top flight,
but the hamstring issues that dogged the end
of his campaign with Atletico Madrid last
season have resurfaced.

Costa scored a hat-trick in last weekend's 4-2
win over Swansea City at Stamford Bridge, but
was limited to a late appearance as Chelsea
drew 1-1 with Schalke in their UEFA
Champions League opener on Wednesday.
Jose Mourinho has a full squad to choose
from and, though conceding Costa is not yet
ready to play a full schedule, confirmed the
striker will line up on Sunday at the Etihad
Stadium, where Chelsea won 1-0 in the league
last term.

"Diego is not in the best condition but he will
start the game,” Mourinho said. "We tried to
do our best, the player is fantastic in his
amazing attitude to be available for the team.
We have to protect him until he gets
completely fit.

"He plays Sunday, he doesn't play against
Bolton [Wanderers on Wednesday in the
League Cup], he plays against Aston Villa next
Saturday, let's hope he goes in the right
direction and is able to play in every game."

Mourinho's counterpart Manuel Pellegrini will
be desperate for a win as City are the closest
of Chelsea's predicted title challengers, but sit
five points off the pace. A reaction is also
required from the champions in their third big
game in the space of nine days.

Martin Demichelis rescued a 2-2 draw at
Arsenal last Saturday before Bayern Munich’s
Jerome Boateng struck a late winner against
his former club in midweek in the Champions
League.

Pellegrini was also shorn of his star striker for
large parts in Germany, with Sergio Aguero
only fit enough for a 16-minute showing from
the bench. But the Argentina forward is also
set to start on Sunday, much to Pellegrini's
relief, having suffered defeat to Chelsea in
each of last season's Premier League
meetings.

"He's fresh for Sunday and I am sure that we
will make a difference,” Pellegrini said. "When
he is 100% fit he makes a difference."

Aguero's return is a boost to Pellegrini but the
61-year-old is without the injured Stevan
Jovetic (hamstring) and Fernando (groin).

Manchester City (from): Caballero, Hart,
Wright, Boyata, Clichy, Demichelis, Kolarov,
Kompany, Mangala, Nastasic, Sagna, Zabaleta,
Fernandinho, Lampard, Milner, Nasri, Navas,
Silva, Sinclair, Toure, Aguero, Dzeko.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Courtois, Schwarzer,
Ake, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Christensen, Filipe,
Ivanovic, Terry, Zouma, Fabregas, Hazard,
Matic, Mikel, Oscar, Ramires, Salah, Willian,
Costa, Drogba, Remy, Schurrle.

Match appointments

Referee: Mike Dean Assistants: J Brooks, S
Burt Fourth Official: P Dowd......
This will be a real test for Chelsea and I pray we go home with 3 points.

My dear pls, in d name of God i beg u to change ur topic. It is wrong. Its man city and not united

simplemach: My dear pls, in d name of God i beg u to change ur topic. It is wrong. Its man city and not united

Sorry bro, it waz a mistake... Thanks for pointing it out

indomie.