Chelsea have confirmed Eden Hazard will miss the start of the new Premier League season after undergoing surgery on his injured ankle.
Hazard fractured his right ankle during a training session with the Belgium national team on Sunday before an initial scan estimated the winger would be sidelined for between six and eight weeks.
But after the 26-year-old returned to London to be assessed by Chelsea’s medical staff on Monday, he underwent an operation on his ankle which has now ruled him out for three months – meaning he will miss the opening weeks of the 2017/18 Premier League season.
Chelsea said in a statement on their website on Monday evening: “Eden Hazard successfully underwent surgery today after sustaining a fracture to his right ankle while training with the Belgian national team.
“He is expected to return to training in approximately three months.”
The news will be a huge blow for Chelsea manager Antonio Conte after Hazard ended the 2016/17 campaign with 16 Premier League goals – his best return since moving to England in 2012.
The Belgian’s injury means he will miss Chelsea’s game against Arsenal in the Community Shield on August 6 and then the opening few weeks of the new season, where the Blues will look to successfully defend their title.
The earliest he is set to return to training will be in September.
COMMENTS