Guus Hiddink admits Chelsea’s strike-force could be limited to only Diego Costa with several attacking players recovering from injury.

Costa, 27, will return at the weekend with the reigning Premier League champions travelling to Selhurst Park to take on high-flying Palace, who are currently fifth.

The Spain international has completed a one-game suspension, but Hiddink is fully aware that the club’s options up front are limited.

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Radamel Falcao, who is on loan from French outfit Monaco, is out until mid-January with a thigh injury, while Loic Remy is also an injury doubt for the game against Palace.

“Loic Remy is OK in a few days,” Hiddink, 69, said.

“I don’t know for the weekend but he will be fit soon after. If it is a longer period of instability regarding the recovery of strikers then yes, we have just Diego so we will see if we can recover one as fast as possible.

“Falcao played in a [training] game and he had the injury again that he had before to the inside of his thigh.

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“Our medical staff tried to build him up but he had a setback which is not a positive signal. We hope within 10 days he might be fit again but not ready to play.”

Bottom-placed Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Remy in the January transfer window, and Hiddink said of the speculation: “You have to respect where the players are.

“If you are interested, talk first to the people where they are contracted.

“Remy has signed a contract here and must be fit for us. He's having a difficult time regarding his injuries and has had a calf problem for several days. First of all he has to prove that he's a good Chelsea player.”

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