Diego Costa has revealed his hamstring problems are on the mend and believes Chelsea’s busy fixture list will help him make a full recovery sooner rather than later.

Manager Jose Mourinho had insisted that the 25-year-old striker, who joined from Atletico Madrid for £32m this summer, is not able to play more than one game a week for the forseeable future.

Costa is the club’s top scorer with seven goals despite being troubled by hamstring injuries for the past month.

The Spain international struggled to make an impact against Manchester City on Sunday has already been ruled out of the Capital One Cup Third Round tie at home to Bolton tomorrow.

Chelsea’s schedule will be even busier over the next few months due to the Champions League group stage, while Spain have more Euro 2016 qualifiers.

But Costa is adamant he is nearing full fitness and told International Business Times: “I am still carrying some hamstring discomfort, but every day I feel better. The truth is that over the past week I have worked fine.

"I suffered an injury with Spain and could not play against Macedonia (two weeks ago). It was a shame but then during that week I was treated and could play [against Swansea).

"I'm working to get the best physical condition soon. The games we have now, almost every three days, will help me to get fit.”

Costa’s scoring streak in the League came to an end in the 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Sunday.

Jose Mourinho’s side could have moved eight points clear of the defending champions, but conceded a late equaliser from former midfielder Frank Lampard.

Costa still feels Chelsea have made a strong start in their pursuit of silverware and is determined to put the team before personal glory.

He added: "We played against a great team and we knew it would not be easy to win there. But as we were leading the game and got one more man, we thought the victory was near.

"But this is football. City are one of the best teams in the world and to get a point there is important. Hopefully we can win a title this season. That is our goal and I personally hope to continue scoring.

Manchester City v Chelsea: Player Ratings 27 show all Manchester City v Chelsea: Player Ratings 1/27 Joe Hart: 5 Didn’t have much to do, and couldn’t have prevented Andre Schurrle’s goal. GETTY 2/27 Pablo Zabaleta: 5 Got forward again and again to support the City attacks, but put his side in trouble when he was sent off in the 65th minute for a second booking. Getty 3/27 Vincent Kompany: 6 Dealt well with the threat of Diego Costa in what was a typically accomplished performance. Getty 4/27 Eliaquim Mangala: 5 A solid debut from the Frenchman, who looked strong when called upon. Getty 5/27 Aleksandar Kolarov: 5 Didn’t offer a great deal going forward but solid defensively. GETTY 6/27 James Milner: 7 Impressive stuff from the England midfielder, who played in three different positions throughout the match, and never stopped working. Provided excellent volleyed assist for Lampard’s goal. Getty 7/27 Fernandinho: 5 Booked in the early stages, which forced the midfielder to curb his naturally combative instincts. Less effective as a result. Getty 8/27 Yaya Toure: 5 Still a long way from his best, and unable to dictate the pace of the match. Getty 9/27 David Silva: 5 A few nice touches, but drifted in and out of the game. Picked up first-half booking. Getty 10/27 Eden Dzeko: 5 Worked hard, but didn’t pose much of a threat. Sacrificed for Bacary Sagna after the Zabaleta sending off. NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 17: Edin Dzeko of Man City in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park on August 17, 2014 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Ge 11/27 Sergio Aguero: 6 Almost scored in the second half with effort from inside the box, but mostly starved of chances. Getty 12/27 Bacary Sagna: 5 Looked solid for the final 20 minutes after replacing Dzeko. GETTY 13/27 Jesus Navas: 5 Came on for the final 15 minutes and added pace to the City attack. Getty 14/27 Frank Lampard: 7 Took his goal brilliantly with a trademark volleyed finish, and nearly scored with a couple of other decent efforts. A truly unforgettable 12-minute cameo against his former club. Getty 15/27 Thibaut Courtois: 6 Made decent save to deny Aguero in the second half, and looked calm and composed throughout. 16/27 Branislav Ivanovic: 7 Galloped forward to support the attack that led to Schurrle’s goal, and didn’t put a foot wrong defensively. Getty 17/27 Gary Cahill. 7 Kept Dzeko quiet, and stood up well whenever Aguero tried to take him on. Getty 18/27 John Terry: 7 Marshalled the defence effectively, and largely untroubled. Getty 19/27 Cesar Azpilicueta: 6 Dealt well with Silva, and never looked like getting caught out down his side. Getty 20/27 Cesc Fabregas: 5 A quiet afternoon from the former Arsenal man, who did very little apart from a lovely through ball to Diego Costa late on. GETTY 21/27 Nemanja Matic: 7 Outmuscled Yaya Toure, which takes some doing, and afforded good protection to his back four. Booked in the first half. Getty 22/27 Ramires: 5 Did brilliantly to clear in his own box when Dzeko was about to pounce. Booked in the first half and substituted with an hour gone Getty 23/27 Willian: 5 Worked hard defensively but offered very little going forward. Taken off after an hour. Getty 24/27 Eden Hazard: 6 Created Schurrle’s goal with a sumptuous cross, but was peripheral for the most part. Getty 25/27 Diego Costa: 6 Gave as good as he got physically against Kompany and Mangala, and unlucky not to score when left-footed effort cannoned off the post. Getty 26/27 John Obi Mikel: 5 Added solidity to the Chelsea midfield for the half-hour he was on the pitch. Getty 27/27 Andre Schurrle: 6 Scored just eight minutes after coming on, but lost Milner for Lampard’s goal. Getty 1/27 Joe Hart: 5 Didn’t have much to do, and couldn’t have prevented Andre Schurrle’s goal. GETTY 2/27 Pablo Zabaleta: 5 Got forward again and again to support the City attacks, but put his side in trouble when he was sent off in the 65th minute for a second booking. Getty 3/27 Vincent Kompany: 6 Dealt well with the threat of Diego Costa in what was a typically accomplished performance. Getty 4/27 Eliaquim Mangala: 5 A solid debut from the Frenchman, who looked strong when called upon. Getty 5/27 Aleksandar Kolarov: 5 Didn’t offer a great deal going forward but solid defensively. GETTY 6/27 James Milner: 7 Impressive stuff from the England midfielder, who played in three different positions throughout the match, and never stopped working. Provided excellent volleyed assist for Lampard’s goal. Getty 7/27 Fernandinho: 5 Booked in the early stages, which forced the midfielder to curb his naturally combative instincts. Less effective as a result. Getty 8/27 Yaya Toure: 5 Still a long way from his best, and unable to dictate the pace of the match. Getty 9/27 David Silva: 5 A few nice touches, but drifted in and out of the game. Picked up first-half booking. Getty 10/27 Eden Dzeko: 5 Worked hard, but didn’t pose much of a threat. Sacrificed for Bacary Sagna after the Zabaleta sending off. NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 17: Edin Dzeko of Man City in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester City at St James' Park on August 17, 2014 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Ge 11/27 Sergio Aguero: 6 Almost scored in the second half with effort from inside the box, but mostly starved of chances. Getty 12/27 Bacary Sagna: 5 Looked solid for the final 20 minutes after replacing Dzeko. GETTY 13/27 Jesus Navas: 5 Came on for the final 15 minutes and added pace to the City attack. Getty 14/27 Frank Lampard: 7 Took his goal brilliantly with a trademark volleyed finish, and nearly scored with a couple of other decent efforts. A truly unforgettable 12-minute cameo against his former club. Getty 15/27 Thibaut Courtois: 6 Made decent save to deny Aguero in the second half, and looked calm and composed throughout. 16/27 Branislav Ivanovic: 7 Galloped forward to support the attack that led to Schurrle’s goal, and didn’t put a foot wrong defensively. Getty 17/27 Gary Cahill. 7 Kept Dzeko quiet, and stood up well whenever Aguero tried to take him on. Getty 18/27 John Terry: 7 Marshalled the defence effectively, and largely untroubled. Getty 19/27 Cesar Azpilicueta: 6 Dealt well with Silva, and never looked like getting caught out down his side. Getty 20/27 Cesc Fabregas: 5 A quiet afternoon from the former Arsenal man, who did very little apart from a lovely through ball to Diego Costa late on. GETTY 21/27 Nemanja Matic: 7 Outmuscled Yaya Toure, which takes some doing, and afforded good protection to his back four. Booked in the first half. Getty 22/27 Ramires: 5 Did brilliantly to clear in his own box when Dzeko was about to pounce. Booked in the first half and substituted with an hour gone Getty 23/27 Willian: 5 Worked hard defensively but offered very little going forward. Taken off after an hour. Getty 24/27 Eden Hazard: 6 Created Schurrle’s goal with a sumptuous cross, but was peripheral for the most part. Getty 25/27 Diego Costa: 6 Gave as good as he got physically against Kompany and Mangala, and unlucky not to score when left-footed effort cannoned off the post. Getty 26/27 John Obi Mikel: 5 Added solidity to the Chelsea midfield for the half-hour he was on the pitch. Getty 27/27 Andre Schurrle: 6 Scored just eight minutes after coming on, but lost Milner for Lampard’s goal. Getty

“I don't like to put a personal goal target. I can’t always score but the important thing is that the team did not lose. I always try to improve but the most important thing is that the team is playing well and if the team does well I am sure I will also do fine.”

Mourinho will choose between veteran Didier Drogba or £10.5m signing Loic Remy to start up front in Costa’s absence against Bolton at Stamford Bridge.

Costa believes all three of them have a vital role to play this term and said: "Didier and Remy are great strikers. Everyone knows Didier's story. We know that we must continue working. The important thing is to have a healthy competition to help the team to be better.

"I think there's a great atmosphere in the dressing room. No rivalry. We just fight to improve.

"Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas are great players. It is very easy to play with guys with such a talent. We understand each other very well."