It’s been another injury ravaged season for Eden Hazard, and his fitness in uncertain heading into Euro 2020.
Belgium coach Roberto Martinez is set to play the Real Madrid winger in a friendly against Croatia on Sunday in order to test his condition, in hope that he can get back to match fitness in time for the tournament.
Hazard has not played for the national team in 19 months, missing the Red Devils’ last 12 games.
It will be Hazard’s ninth attempt to get back up to peak condition since his injury on November 26, 2019 that saw the start of a torrid run of luck.
A painful ordeal
Since that injury in 2019, each time Hazard has tried to return, he has been met with another setback.
In the season gone by, he wasn’t available for more than 42 days at any given point in the campaign. On March 13, he returned after 36 days out, playing 15 minutes against Elche before being out for another 41 days due to a muscle injury.
Last season saw Hazard play less than in his first campaign with Real Madrid, missing the majority of 2020/21.
He was only able to play 21 games after six injuries and one positive test result for COVID-19, one game less than the 22 he played in 2019/20 season.
In total, Hazard has only been able to play 43 out of Real Madrid’s 103 games (42 percent) since signing from Chelsea.
Ancelotti keeping an eye
Newly appointed Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will be keeping a close eye on Hazard throughout the summer, as he hopes to be able to count on the winger from the start of the new season.
