Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho cannot give a return date for injured striker Diego Costa.
After victory at Crystal Palace, Mourinho declined to give a prognosis on Costa, who has scored nine times in seven Premier League appearances this season.
The £32million summer signing from Atletico Madrid has been hampered with troublesome hamstring injuries yet played almost every minute for Spain during the international break.
Mourinho said: "After Arsenal he went to national team, he played two big matches against Slovakia and Luxembourg, and he come in conditions where he's not available to play for his club."
Mourinho said he had "no idea" when Costa would next be available, but ruled him out of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Maribor and would not comment on the prospect of a return at Manchester United next Sunday.
Mourinho added: "I think he will be in great condition in mid-November to be back for the national team. That's for sure.
"Our medical department will take great care of him and mid-November he will be in perfect conditions.
"He will play for me when he has free time from national team."
