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Roberto Martinez offers an update on Eden Hazard’s recovery

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After his return to activity with Belgium, Roberto Martinez offered an update on Eden Hazard’s recovery process over the summer. 

Eden Hazard hadn’t played for Roberto Martinez’s Belgium squad since November 2019 due to the long injury issues he suffered at Real Madrid. The plan is for him to possibly return to the squad in full capacity for the Euros. Yesterday, he returned against Croatia to play the last 10 minutes of the match with no negative results. During all the year under Zinedine Zidane, Hazard suffered a major psychological setback with various injuries that kept him away from his top level of performance.

Roberto Martinez doesn’t want the same issue to happen with Belgium and his plan was laid out after Sunday’s match. The fact that he only played 10 minutes wasn’t as important for Martinez as it was getting him to step on the pitch. Now, the next step in his recovery starts during training with Belgium. If they want the best Hazard to return, he needs to recover his self-confidence on the pitch first. For the next game they play, perhaps the star will get to play a few more minutes. 

Martinez hopes to recover Hazard in full capacity. 

As part of the process of return, Eden Hazard only needed to get a feel of what it’s like to return to his national team. Let’s keep in mind that we are talking about the most talented player Belgium has of this golden generation. If Hazard returns to his top form, this squad will definitely be a title contender. But Roberto Martinez wants to take it slow as per Marca reports: “The target for Eden is for him to be on the pitch.

“It was almost a psychological step. The minutes didn’t matter. Now he will have to get more minutes. The next step will be in training. He has to take that step forward without risk, in a safe way. It is difficult to say when he will be ready, I think it depends on many things. What matters is that he is medically well now. I want see Eden Hazard happy, with a smile on his face, and making the difference.”

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