Diego Costa sent home from Spain due to injury; Iago Aspas called up as replacement

After a couple days of worrying news, the Spanish national team confirmed today that Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been sent back home due to a groin injury.  He will be replaced by Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas for the matches coming up against Macedonia and England during this international break.

OFICIAL | @aspas10 se incorporará a la concentración de la @SeFutbol en lugar de @diegocosta, que se marcha por lesión pic.twitter.com/z7wHwUXR0P

— Selección Española (@SeFutbol) 10 November 2016

Diego had arrived with the groin already bothering him, and missed the first day of training on orders from Chelsea.  But then he missed training yesterday, too, and while national team coach Jule Lopetegui was still confident that Costa would still be able to feature, the injury must've proven more serious than previously thought.

Obviously, this is not good news.

Currently leading the Premier League goalscoring charts with 9 goals in 11 matches, Costa has been in tremendous form both club and country.  Even though young Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi could do well in filling in, Diego has been a key factor in our current dominant run in the league.

Chelsea next play in ten days, away to Middlesbrough, before two really tough games against Spurs and Manchester City at the end of the month and into early December.