Spain
will assess Cesc Fabregas' fitness on Monday to see whether he will be able
to link up with the squad, with reports suggesting the Chelsea midfielder
could be out for three weeks.
Fabregas played the whole of Chelsea's 2-1 Premier League win over Liverpool
on Saturday but Blues boss Jose Mourinho admitted afterwards he had taken a
"gamble" with the 27-year-old's hamstring problem.
Mourinho also said that Fabregas could link up with Spain ahead of their
upcoming matches against Belarus and Germany, but added that he "would be
back" as he was not fit.
Fabregas is now set to undergo tests with his national team on Monday to
determine his availability.
Spain team doctor Oscar Celada told Radio Marca: "We will assess him in the
coming hours to see if he can form part of the squad.
"We know Cesc, I've known him since he was 16 years old, I know his
professionalism and commitment to the national team, but we are still
waiting to assess him."
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque added on the national team's official
website: "The most prudent thing is that he sees the Spanish national team
medical staff. It's not a lack of confidence in the medical staff at his
club, but after playing 95 minutes this weekend we would like to see him and
examine him."
Fabregas has shone since joining Chelsea from Barcelona this summer, and has
forged an impressive partnership with another new boy in Diego Costa.
Costa is also an international colleague of Fabregas', although the
Brazil-born striker is not part of the current Spain squad after Del Bosque
decided to rest him.
Rest
Costa, who scored the winning goal against Liverpool before being replaced
late on by Didier Drogba, has been hampered by a hamstring problem that he
had at previous club Atletico Madrid.
Celada said of Costa: "We have regular contact with the medical services of
all the teams. We were aware that he has some discomfort, something that
allows him to train sometimes but not others.
"We spoke with the player and with Chelsea and we took a decision which was
for the best, to rest for these two weeks. Then his team decided that he was
able to play (against Liverpool) and there's no problem.
"We did it because medically it is good for the player and if that results
in the good of his club then we are happy."
Del Bosque echoed those comments, saying: "We thought that calling him up
for the two games would be counter-productive for his health and thinking of
the player we preferred that he took a break. There's nothing more."
Spain host Belarus next Saturday in a European Championship qualifier before
then facing the side which this summer took their world crown, Germany, in a
friendly on November 18.
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