Vicente del Bosque confident Diego Costa can overcome struggles

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has insisted that he still has full faith in striker Diego Costa despite his incident-packed start to the season.

The Chelsea forward, who has scored three goals in 17 appearances for his club side this term, has come under fire for a number of disciplinary issues.

A three-game ban was handed to Costa for violent conduct in September, but Del Bosque is confident that the 27-year-old can fully integrate himself into the Spain squad after finding the net just once for his adopted country.

"We all know his character," he is quoted as saying by The Mirror. "But we don't feel we pick him because we owe him anything.

"He was picked because we believe in him, it is a question of confidence. Maybe he should smooth out his character and his behaviour but we believe in him."

Costa is expected to start up front for Spain when they take on England in an international friendly on Friday evening.