'Hazard can get even better'

The 27-year-old Belgian has five goals in five Premier League appearances this season, including a hat-trick against Cardiff on Saturday.

However, according to Danny Higginbotham speaking on 'Sky Sports', Hazard can be even better.

"I don't think he is anywhere near his prime yet," he said.

"He's an incredible player, a world class player, who is performing unbelievably well.

"When you watch him play, no matter how many times he gets kicked, or however many times he gets fouled, he just gets on with it.

"I think he understands that is just part and parcel of football. He is an extraordinary footballer who we are very fortunate to have in the Premier League and who Chelsea are very fortunate to have.

"He is a player who just seems to get better and better and I don't think he is anywhere near his prime yet."

Hazard will play no part against PAOK in Chelsea's opening Europa League fixture on Thursday, after being asked to be left at home.

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has been careful not to wear out arguably his team's best player.

Higginbotham agreed with Sarri's decision, saying: "I think you have to look at how Maurizio Sarri likes to play. It is very much fitness-based, 100mph, the way they press, the way they get forward.

"I think he has probably looked at it and thought 'can we bring him in slowly but surely, let's get him up to speed for the style I want to play' and that's what he has done."

4 - Eden Hazard is the fourth player to score more than one Premier League hat-trick for Chelsea (also Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink). Iconic. #CHECAR pic.twitter.com/Ad743K4o4F

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 15, 2018