Chelsea’s Batshuayi can fill in for Costa – Matic

Michy Batshuayi is capable of stepping up to fill the void left by the suspended Diego Costa against Bournemouth, according to Chelsea teammate Nemanja Matic.
Costa picked up his fifth yellow card of the season before scoring the winning goal in Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, earning him an automatic one-match ban.
Batshuayi is expected to be handed his first Premier League start in the absence of Costa — who has scored 13 goals in 16 appearances this season — and Matic insists that the £33 million summer signing from Marseille is good enough to fill the Spain international’s boots.
“When you have Diego in the team it is very hard to get a chance because he is playing so well and scoring goals, but I’m sure Michy is ready to take his opportunity because he is working hard every day,” Matic told the London Evening Standard. “He is a good man.
“We won’t have Diego against Bournemouth but I hope Michy will be the man to decide the game. If he does that it will be good for us. He is a great striker, for sure, that is why Chelsea bought him. I’m sure if he gets a chance to score in the next game, he’ll take it.”
Batshuayi has been restricted to substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season, producing his best moments in partnership with Costa up front, and Matic believes the Belgian is relishing the chance to compete with and learn from one of the elite strikers in European football.
“Of course he has benefited from working with Costa,” Matic added. “It was the same with me seven years ago [in Matic’s first spell at Chelsea]. It was very good for me to see how Frank Lampard played, how Michael Ballack played and Michael Essien.
“So it is good for Michy and a good experience for him to see Diego’s movement. He will have learned from watching and playing with Diego [in training].”
Matic has been competing with Cesc Fabregas for a starting spot in the heart of Chelsea’s midfield in recent weeks, but N’Golo Kante’s suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card during the Palace win means that both are likely to be picked by Conte when Bournemouth visit Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day.