Diego Costa is uncaged after 148 days LaLiga Back available for selection

Diego Costa has been caged up for 148 days, but now he is finally ready to return to LaLiga Santander with Atletico Madrid. That's how long he's had to wait to play competitive football for Los Rojiblancos, and he'll be ready to go against Eibar this weekend.

It was on April 6 that he last played, away at Barcelona and with the title race on the line. But he lost his head with the referee and saw a red card.

The time between then and now has been interesting, too. Costa refused to train one day, received a warning from the club, and he also saw Diego Simeone defend him, despite many more at the club wanting him out.

He's back

The Estadio Wanda Metropolitano will see him return with a good level of fitness and hunger. He won't offer any surprises in terms of his approach or what he can bring to the team, but he knows exactly how to work in Simeone's system and epitomises everything they represent.

Costa is more than just a character to Atleti; he showed how key he can be in the Madrid derby played in New Jersey, terrorising Real Madrid.

Few doubt that he'll start this weekend alongside Alvaro Morata, meaning Joao Felix will operate a little deeper as they form one of Spain's most-feared attacks.

The panther is set to be let out of the cage, and his hunger should have everyone running scared.