Jose Mourinho says Diego Costa's midweek suspension should mean he returns fresher for the Blues weekend visit to Newcaslte.

But the Blues' boss has stopped sort of saying the Spaniard's fifth yellow card of the season is a blessing in disguise.

The booking picked up by the forward at Sunderland on Saturday means he will have to sit out Chelsea's Premier League clash with Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho said: “It's never a blessing. We want the best players to play, but it is the reality (he is suspended).”

However, Mourinho raised a parallel with Newcastle player Moussa Sissoko, who also misses his team's midweek league action, but should return for next Saturday's match.

“I think Sissoko at Newcastle is the same,” he said. “I don't think he can play in the next game. Alan (Pardew) is going to miss him.

“But often that he is fresh to play against us at the weekend. This is football.

“And in this busy period when you play so many matches, players to get a fifth yellow card and one game to rest is not good for the team but, you are right, individually it gives them a new energy.”

Mourinho will now have to decide on whether Didier Drogba or Loic Remy starts up front for Blues in Wednesday night's game against Tottenham.