Diego Costa will return from suspension in Chelsea's Premier League game against Aston Villa on Saturday and, ahead of the crucial clash, the striker undertook a signing session with fans which marked his first real public appearance since being banned for violent conduct against Arsenal last month.
Costa was captured meeting, taking photos with and signing autographs for Blues supporters at the club's megastore at Stamford Bridge on Monday afternoon after having been missing from action for Chelsea's last three games through suspension.
The Brazil-born Spain international was handed a retrospective ban by the FA for clashing with Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny during the Blues' 2-0 win over the Gunners last month and subsequently missed Chelsea's games against Walsall, Newcastle and Southampton.
Despite being pictured enjoying a day out at Peppa Pig World the day after the win over Arsenal, Costa has not been seen at Stamford Bridge since being banned but came out to meet fans at Chelsea's ground on Monday ahead of his expected return to action against Villa this weekend.
Costa is set to lead the Blues' attack when they host Tim Sherwood's relegation-threatened side on Saturday afternoon, and will be hoping to inspire Jose Mourinho's team to only their third win of the season.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Thank you to everyone who came down to the megastore to meet <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/diegocosta" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3088686-https://twitter.com/diegocosta" data-vars-event-id="c23">@diegocosta</a>! <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFC?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3088686-https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFC?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#CFC</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://t.co/kHnb8COqC9" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3088686-https://t.co/kHnb8COqC9" data-vars-event-id="c23">https://t.co/kHnb8COqC9</a> — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC/status/653603876277473281" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3088686-https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC/status/653603876277473281" data-vars-event-id="c23">October 12, 2015</a>
The striker admitted he returned from his summer break out of shape, but insisted he would work hard alongside his teammates to get Chelsea's stuttering start to the season back on track despite being omitted from Spain's Euro 2016 qualifiers this week.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/diegocosta" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3088686-https://twitter.com/diegocosta" data-vars-event-id="c23">@diegocosta</a> has been meeting supporters down at Stamford Bridge... <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFC?src=hash" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3088686-https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFC?src=hash" data-vars-event-id="c23">#CFC</a> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://t.co/5j3ez9OKLr" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3088686-https://t.co/5j3ez9OKLr" data-vars-event-id="c23">https://t.co/5j3ez9OKLr</a> — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC/status/653589605422379008" class="body-link" data-vars-item-name="BL-3088686-https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC/status/653589605422379008" data-vars-event-id="c23">October 12, 2015</a>
