Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Diego Costa could return to action from a knee injury as early as next month.
Last weekend, the veteran needed to be withdrawn during the first half of the Premier League fixture with Tottenham Hotspur after landing awkwardly on his knee.
At the time, it was perceived that the 34-year-old could be struggling to feature again before the end of the season having been stretchered off the pitch.
As well as being a blow to Wolves, it may have proven significant to the player whose contract is due to expire in June.
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However, head coach Julen Lopetegui revealed at a press conference on Friday that Costa is currently in line to be back in contention in April.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Sunday's fixture with Newcastle United, the Spaniard said: "Diego Costa will be out. He suffered an injury in the last match.
"Fortunately, it is not a severe injury but he will be out for, I don't know, maybe two, three or four weeks."
Costa will miss the trip to St James' Park as well as the potentially-pivotal home fixture with relegation rivals Leeds United on March 18.
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After the international break, Wolves face another important fixture away at Nottingham Forest, before playing host to Costa's former club Chelsea a week later.
Costa has failed to score a single goal in 713 minutes of Premier League football since joining the club on a free transfer in September.
Nevertheless, while the former Spain international's time at Molineux can be described as mixed at best, he was recently praised by Lopetegui for the impact that he made off the substitutes' bench versus Southampton as Wolves dramatically came from behind to win 2-1 with 10 men.
In total, nine starts and five substitute outings have been made in the top flight.
Darren Plant
