Atletico Madrid have been handed an injury boost ahead of next week's Champions League clash with Liverpool with the news Diego Costa is now back in training.
We reported yesterday how Atleti are sweating on the fitness of up to SEVEN players with the round of 16 first-leg tie against Jurgen Klopp's side looming next Tuesday (February 18).
Former Chelsea striker Costa was among that number, having been out since November with a hernia disc injury and was said to have only an 'outside chance' of figuring against the Champions League holders.
However the 31-year-old has been training this weekend, the Evening Standard report, having missed the 'Rojiblancos' last 17 games and could play a part at the Wanda Metropolitano next week.
As for Atletico's other injury concerns, former Tottenham full-back Kieran Tripper is definitely out of contention after undergoing groin surgery while £126m summer signing Joao Felix faces a race against time to be fit and is unlikely to be risked in Diego Simeone's side's Friday night La Liga fixture at Valencia.
Another former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata is now expected to be available after limping out of the Madrid derby on February 1 with a groin problem and could feature in Atletico's Friday night La Liga fixture at Valencia, while right back Santiago Arias is to return to training after missing the last three matches also with a groin problem.
Defenders Jose Gimenez and Hector Herrera are also now thought to be back in contention as Atleti look to jump-start a season which has seen them fall 13 points off the pace in the La Liga title race and get knocked out of the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) by lower-league Cultural Leonesa.
