Soccer

Diego Costa and Oscar separated after training ground row

The two Chelsea players were said to have quickly laughed off the incident in Cobham

Chelsea’s Oscar and Diego Costa had to be separated after an incident during training on Thursday. Photo: Gerry Penny/Getty Images
Chelsea’s Oscar and Diego Costa had to be separated after an incident during training on Thursday. Photo: Gerry Penny/Getty Images
Thu Jan 07 2016 - 17:41

Diego Costa and Chelsea team-mate Oscar had to be separated after exchanging robust tackles in training on Thursday.

Brazil-born Spain striker Costa took exception to a challenge from Brazil playmaker Oscar and responded in kind in a competitive training session, with a confrontation swiftly diffused.

It is understood that the incident was laughed off afterwards ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie with Scunthorpe.

Interim boss Guus Hiddink is likely to be asked about the kerfuffle during his scheduled pre-match media conference on Friday.

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Radamel Falcao was present at Chelsea’s Cobham training base on Thursday after flying back to parent club Monaco earlier this week.

The Colombian returned to the Principality for checks on his thigh injury at Monaco’s training ground ahead of a potential return to the club.

Falcao was hoping to resurrect his ailing career at Chelsea this year, but halfway through a season-long loan with the Premier League champions, he has scored just one goal.

The 29-year-old has not played for Chelsea since the end of October due to a thigh injury and is expected to be out for at least another week with the problem.

The striker returned to Chelsea’s Surrey base on Wednesday, but he is understood to be considering an attempt to cut his loan short and return to Monaco.

With Costa and Loic Remy ahead of him in the pecking order, Falcao appears unlikely to get much playing time with the Blues for the rest of the season, which is of concern to the former Atletico Madrid forward.

If Chelsea cannot offer him regular first-team football for the rest of the campaign, it is understood the Colombian would prefer to return to Monaco.

Reports suggest that Falcao has recently rejected approaches from Mexican and Turkish clubs.

Falcao’s contract with Monaco expires in 2018. Monaco signed the striker from Atletico in 2013 for £52million, but he spent just one season in Ligue 1, suffering a major knee injury midway through, before embarking on a disappointing loan spell at Manchester United in which he scored just four goals in 29 appearances.

Prior to his time in England, Falcao was regarded as one of the best strikers in the world following prolific spells at Atletico, Porto and River Plate.