Three ways Chelsea can account for Eden Hazard’s ankle injury ahead of the new season

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With news emerging that Eden Hazard has broken his right ankle whilst in training with the Belgian national team, it could prove a real blow for Chelsea, with his expected recovery time likely to be somewhere between six weeks and three months.

Even if Hazard does make a rapid recovery in time to be back in training in August when the 2017/18 season kicks off again, he will have missed the majority of pre-season and will have his work cut out to regain fitness and be up to scratch and ready for a season, which will include at the very least 47 games for Chelsea next season.

So how else could the Blues line up with the Belgian absent? Antonio Conte will benefit from having months and a transfer window to prepare alternatives, but he may not want to spend money on a short term replacement, with Hazard bound to return to the starting eleven upon his return to fitness.

Here, The Boot Room considers some of the alternatives…

Willian

The Brazilian was Chelsea’s player of the year in 2015 after a disastrous season, when Hazard was among those to disappoint, but was little more than a squad option last campaign and rarely found himself in the starting eleven for the biggest fixtures under Antonio Conte.

ESPN have linked the forward with a potential exit this summer, with Manchester United keen, but if guaranteed a shot at first team football in the opening weeks of the campaign, it may be harder for Jose Mourinho to tempt him away. Equally, if Conte looks to bring in more competition on the wings, it could spell the end of Willian’s time in London.

With pace, energy and a tendency to take on defenders, Willian would be a similar style to the number ten and offers goals as well as creativity in attack and may be the easiest option for the Blues.

Read on over the following pages to see other options for Antonio Conte…