FOOTBALL

Eden Hazard set to return 'very soon' for Real Madrid

Hazard has missed nearly 50 matches since joining Real

Eden Hazard. Agencies

H. J. I./AFP

Eden Hazard will soon resume his injury-plagued Real Madrid career after recovering from a thigh problem, coach Zinedine Zidane said on Saturday.

Hazard has missed nearly 50 matches since joining Real from Chelsea in a deal worth up to 150 million euros ($184 million) in July 2019.

-We hope he will be back very soon- Zidane said in a press conference before the champions face Eibar on Sunday.

-He is fine and he is almost completely recovered. He just needs a little more time. But he is training with us and he is very close to being able to get into the team and play.-

Hazard, who was voted the Premier League's player of the year by his fellow players in 2015, was injured on November 28.

Zidane said it had been a difficult experience for the 29-year-old Belgian forward.

-These are difficult things to live with and I don't like to see that (players injured). But before these injuries at Real, he never had anything and he played very regularly.-