Diego Costa may not appear for Chelsea again this season, Jose Mourinho has said, ahead of a summer fitness programme aimed at returning the burly Spanish striker to full strength.

Costa is definitely out of the club's home game at Crystal Palace on Sunday, where a win will see them clinch the title.

And if Chelsea do claim three points, Mourinho says their top scorer will not be risked again this campaign, after a season in which he's been plagued by persistent hamstring problems.

Costa will only play if they do still need a point to win the league against Liverpool next Sunday, but Mourinho confirmed Loic Remy was fit for the Palace game.

"There is a chance he might not," Mourinho said when asked whether Costa would appear in any of their last four games.

"If we win Sunday, I would say he doesn't play against Liverpool. If we don't win on Sunday and we need points against Liverpool, I'd say he would play against them. It's about result after result, needs and needs. If we don't need, probably he doesn't play (again).

"Just it isn't worth the risk. In this process, in the last month, if we lose a game -- and we don't want to lose a second -- he will be back immediately. Immediately.

"Because the results in the last month were always victories and a draw against the team in second, we don't need to rush. We are trying to give him maximum stability for him to be stronger and stronger. No need for any risk. Remy is back...definitely back. 

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