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Costa passed fit for Everton trip

Diego Costa has been called up to face France and Macedonia for Spain © Getty Images

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Diego Costa has passed a late fitness test ahead of Chelsea's trip to Everton on Saturday.

Costa had not trained for the last two days and Mourinho said earlier on Friday that his striker was facing a race against time to play at Goodison Park.

"We are trying everything for him to play tomorrow," Mourinho had told a news conference. "He didn't train for the last two days. Today is the last day. He is a big doubt, let's see. Everyone else is fit."

Costa was hurt at training on Wednesday and reportedly struggled with a tight muscle the next day too. Despite initial fears that the striker could be out for up to six weeks because of hamstring trouble, Chelsea let it be known they believed Costa had suffered only a "minor muscular injury" but were monitoring it.

Fears over Costa's hamstring injury also appeared to have subsided when he was picked by Vicente Del Bosque in the Spain squad to face France and Macedonia.

Spain squad in full

• Goalkeepers: Casillas (Real Madrid), De Gea (Manchester United), Casilla (Espanyol).
• Defenders: Torres (Atletico Madrid), Carvajal (Real Madrid), San Jose (Athletic Bilbalo), Ramos (Real Madrid), Marc Bartra (Barcelona), Albiol (Napoli), Alba (Barcelona), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
• Midfielders: Koke, Raul Garcia (Atletico Madrid), Iturraspe (Athletic Bilbao), Busquets, Iniesta, Rodriguez (all Barcelona), Silva (Manchester City), Cazorla (Arsenal), Fabregas (Chelsea), Isco (Real Madrid)
• Forwards: Costa (Chelsea), Alcacer (Valencia)

It had been thought that Costa, who suffered with hamstring problems at Atletico Madrid last season, may be rested for the trip to Goodison Park and use the international break to repair any damage.

But, after naming a squad which had no place for Chelsea's Fernando Torres or Manchester United's Juan Mata, Spain coach Del Bosque had said: "They tell us it is just a bang. [Costa] and the medical staff say he can come after the Premier League weekend."

He now looks set to face France in a friendly in Paris next Thursday and Macedonia in a Euro 2016 qualifier on September 8, unlike Manchester United's Ander Herrera who has been ruled out through injury.

"[Ander] has some abductor muscle problems so we have not called him up," Del Bosque said. "He has not played with his team."

Manchester City's Jesus Navas has been left out, though there are places for David Silva, Chelsea pair Cesc Fabregas and Cesar Azpilicueta, Arsenal's Santi Cazorla and United goalkeeper David De Gea.

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