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Eden Hazard will return to action for Real Madrid on the LaLiga trip to Elche on Wednesday, with manager Zinedine Zidane hinting that he is ready to rotate his squad.
Belgian international Hazard has not played for Madrid since injuring his thigh during the first half of the surprising 2-1 home loss to Deportivo Alaves on 28 November.
He returned to the team for last Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Granada, remaining as an unused substitute for that game.
Zidane revealed after the victory, Madrid’s sixth in a row in all competitions, that he was unwilling to risk Hazard and instead will slowly work the striker to get back in shape.
After another week in training camp, Hazard is now in contention to play a role against Elche at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero.
“He will be there tomorrow and the plan is for him to play a bit,” Zidane said at the pre-game press conference on Tuesday.
“The other day we decided something different. He has been with the team for several days and we are looking to make the most of that.”
Hazard has played for Madrid 19 times in LaLiga since arriving on a big play from Chelsea in June 2019, scoring just two goals and assisting three more.
Even when fit and available, the 29-year-old has struggled to live up to expectations – his 21 chances barely created a standout figure.
That equates to 1.5 key passes every 90 minutes, which is a bit far from Real Betis winger Joaquín (2.69) and Barcelona star Lionel Messi (2.68) as the most frequent LaLiga creators among the who have played at least 16 times since the start of 2019-20.
However, Hazard faces a challenge maintaining a spot on the wing, with Zidane keeping changes to a minimum in terms of his starting lineup during Madrid’s impressive winning streak.
But with matches against Elche and Celta de Vigo in the space of four days, Zidane suggested that he is open to giving some of his fringe players a chance to impress.
“There are many professionals here and there are very competent people paying attention to that. [the risk of injury]”, said.” We will never take risks if we know that a player can get hurt.
“The general risk is there, because there are many games and training sessions. But there are very good people here.”
Asked specifically about left-back Marcelo and offensive midfielder Isco, who have started a combined eight league games this season, Zidane said: “I have all my players.
“All the players are training well. It is good news for a coach. They are very professional and I think they are training well.
“I’m happy to see all the players focused. Everyone will have opportunities to play. All these players want to play. It’s difficult to leave the players out, but this is part of the coach’s job and it’s the bad part.
Reports from Spain suggest that Luka Modric is close to agreeing to a one-year contract extension with Madrid and Zidane reiterated that he is hopeful that Lucas Vázquez and captain Sergio Ramos will also sign new terms.
“The debate is there and you know how I feel about these things,” he said.
“We want all these players to stay here because they are the best. I want these things to be fixed and quickly, of course.”
Madrid, tied on points with league leaders Atlético de Madrid, who have played two more games, have won their last eight LaLiga games against next rival Elche.
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