LONDON -- Jose Mourinho says that Diego Costa may not play again this season ahead of a summer fitness programme that the Chelsea coach hopes will return the striker to full fitness.
Costa, 26, has scored 19 goals in his debut season at Stamford Bridge to lead Chelsea to the top of the table, but has completed just eight full Premier League games having been plagued by hamstring issues.
The Spain international may yet be able to appear against Liverpool next week if they still need a point to clinch the title, but the Blues do not want to unnecessarily rush their top scorer back.
Costa is definitely out of Sunday's home match against Crystal Palace -- where a win will see Chelsea become champions -- but Mourinho told his pregame news conference that Loic Remy is definitely fit.
When asked whether Costa would appear in any of Chelsea's last four games, Mourinho replied: "There is a chance he might not. If we win [on] 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 [a win], probably he doesn't play [again].
"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 [Arsenal], 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."
Asked whether Costa would be given a long summer break, Mourinho said: "A good period of work, rather. We are preparing a good working situation for him during the holiday period where he can obviously mix the holiday with work without fear."
Meanwhile, Mourinho said that Chelsea will assess Didier Drogba's situation during the summer to see whether the 37-year-old stays on for another campaign as third-choice striker.
"The three strikers will always have time and matches, rotation, form, performance, cards, injuries, different competitions... there would always be space and time for all of them," he added. "And yes, I was expecting it. [He's scored] important goals in the Capital One Cup.
"Important goals -- not a huge amount -- in the Premier League. A great contribution. We have time to speak and analyse his feelings."