Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has been handed a timely boost ahead of La Liga’s potential restart in June, as Eden Hazard is edging ever closer to full fitness after another injury layoff.
The Belgian star has endured a torrid campaign, as recurring fitness issues have forced the big-money signing to be out of action for several months. Hazard last took to the field for Los Merengues at the end of February, and he was expected to miss the remainder of the season after limping off in their shock 1-0 defeat to Levante.
But with La Liga aiming to restart in the near future following the league’s suspension due to the coronavirus outbreak, AS reports that the 29-year-old may soon be ready to make a swift return to the Madrid side.
Hazard reported for training on Wednesday, and underwent a coronavirus test with the rest of his teammates. The ex-Chelsea man looked in good shape despite his long layoff following surgery on a fibula injury at the beginning of March.
The winger has been working hard to get back to his physical peak during this pause in the football calendar, and he has already started doing some work with the ball at his feet. It is believed that Hazard is only a couple of weeks away from taking part in full training once again, but coach Zidane will be careful not to rush him back too soon, given his injury record in Spain thus far.
The Belgium international missed the beginning of the campaign with a hamstring injury, and he then sat out over two months with an ankle problem. Hazard then picked up a fibula issue in only his second league match since returning from his previous ailment, and it proved costly as he missed Los Blancos’ Champions League round of 16 first leg defeat to Manchester City.
La Liga is currently on hold, with plans in place to resume the season on 20 June, while the Champions League is expected to be completed in August. This temporary halt has given Hazard a fighting chance of featuring again in the 2019/20 season, and he could be a huge differential in Madrid’s aims of reclaiming the Spanish top-flight title.
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