Is this on-fire Chelsea striker back to his very best?

Let’s face it – although Diego Costa certainly seemed to enjoy a debut Premier League campaign down at Stamford Bridge just a handful of short seasons ago, the previous domestic term was hardly one to remember for the often controversial and highly regarded centre-forward.

 

The Diego Costa of 2015/16 was slow, lethargic and far more likely to make an impression within the referee’s note-book than in front of goal. Even some of the Premier League’s least gifted defenders had seemingly worked out how to deal with the Brazilian-born Spanish international – and as the Blues drifted further and further away from a once commanding spot at the top of the Premier League table – the now 28-year-old striker looked like he could well be on his way out of the club over the coming summer.

 

Yet since Antonio Conte has been drafted in at Chelsea after impressing with Italy at Euro 2016, the Italian tactician has sought to keep Diego Costa close for now – with the striker’s most recent run of form improving tenfold as a result of his newly appointed manager’s faith. But will the front-man’s confidence keep up throughout the remainder of the season, or is it only a matter of time before things invariably turn sour for Diego Costa once again?

 

Diego Costa has been the best #9 in the world so far this season. Superb form.

— MC (@mediocentroEN) October 9, 2016

 

Diego Costa is in the form of his life at the moment. Kudos to Guus Hiddink for reviving him.

— AKIN (@Haykinz) October 9, 2016

 

Well, whilst most non-Chelsea fans would ideally like to criticise Costa for his consistently petulant displays and unsporting outbursts, no one could really accuse the 28-year-old of failing to impress in front of goal for the Blues this term. Diego Costa has been so deadly in-fact, he currently sits top of the Premier League goal-scorers charts with six well taken finishes.

 

Chelsea have most definitely benefitted from the striker’s recent turnaround in fortunes, a player who incidentally failed to win himself a place among the Spanish national squad for Euro 2016. Perhaps the break has nonetheless served as somewhat of a blessing in disguise for the in-form Chelsea man however, for if Diego Costa’s current form is anything to go by, Antonio Conte’s outfit might just find themselves in the running for some meaningful silverware come the end of term.  

 

Yes, he’s never going to be quite as explosive as Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero. He may not have what it takes to replicate the sheer excellence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the pure power of Romelu Lukaku, or even the undeniably potent heading ability of someone like Andy Carroll – but via his strong movement inside the final third, as well as a truly composed finishing style in one-on-one situations – Diego Costa certainly deserves credit for his recent run of goals out on the pitch for Chelsea.

 

Regardless of whether or not the well-known Spanish international has his shooting boots safely on board with him week-in-week-out, most Premier League defences simply don’t enjoy locking horns with front-man. If he is able of continue conning referees and exploiting the emotion of the game with a further flurry of goals inside the final third this term, then the 2016/17 campaign really could prove one to remember for this season's potential top goal-scorer.    

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