Eden Hazard: Zinedine Zidane refuses to rush Belgian back into action after injury setback

The Belgian has yet to make his Madrid debut after suffering a thigh injury during pre-season

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has cooled suggestions that new signing Eden Hazard is going to be thrown into first team action straight away, despite the club’s ever-growing injury list.

The Belgian has yet to make his Madrid debut after suffering a thigh injury during pre-season, meaning Madrid fans have yet to see their marquee signing from Chelsea in a competitive fixture.

Although Hazard made his return to full training earlier this week, Zidane said the club wouldn’t be rushing the player back.

“Regarding Hazard, we have to go little by little,” the Frenchman said ahead of Saturday’s La Liga clash with Levante. “He has been injured for three weeks. He was back training this week. We have to go carefully with him. We know what the situation is, he is ready and that’s the most important thing.

“I will give him minutes here and there, not trying to push him too much to get the best out of him. We have seven games in 21 days and we need to use our heads with Hazard.”

After picking up just five points from games against Celta Vigo, Valladolid and Villareal, September will be a crucial month for Madrid and Zidane, as they face Levante and PSG in the next week, before taking on Sevilla, Osasuna and Atletico in the space of seven days.

Should Madrid fare badly in this period, it would not be unlike the club to consider a change in management. Zidene could be forgiven, then, for using the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year as soon as he can, given injuries to Marco Asensio, Luka Modric and Isco.

Gareth Bale is also suspended for this weekend’s fixture, after he was sent off in the 2-2 draw with Villareal where he scored both of Madrid’s goals. The Welshman was widely expected to leave the Spanish capital during the summer, and Zidane himself stated that a move away for Bale “would be best for everyone” in June.

With Bale remaining at the club, and starring despite their indifferent form, Zidane has spoken positively about a player who has struggled to win around fans and teammates alike since his move from Spurs in 2013.

“I’ve always said he has amazing quality. He is a great player. We all know what happened this summer.

“I’m happy, he is happy. The fans too, we have to move forward. For me, all the players are the best that we have and Gareth is one of them.”