Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa is backing Alvaro Morata to return to the Spain squad.

The Chelsea striker was dropped by coach Julen Lopetegui for this week's friendlies.

But Costa is confident Morata will be back in the Spain squad soon, and admitted he relishes the competition that the 25-year-old gives him.

"I'm not happy (because he isn't there), I miss him because we get along very well," Costa told El Pais.

"The competition is always good for me, nothing has been easy in my life.

“Morata is a great person and a great footballer who is having a little bit of a bad time.

“But he has scored again (versus Leicester last week) and I hope he comes back soon."