Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has welcomed the return of Eden Hazard but says the midfielder needs time to get back to full fitness.
Hazard underwent ankle surgery during the summer and made his first club appearance of the season as a late substitute against Leicester, having featured from the bench in both of Belgium’s recent World Cup qualifiers.
The 26-year-old played the final 12 minutes of Saturday’s 2-1 win at the King Power Stadium.
“This is good news for us,” Conte said after his side’s third straight Premier League victory. “For sure he needs time to be 100 percent but for us his recovery is very important.”
Chelsea are in action again on Tuesday night at home to Qarabag and Hazard could get another run-out in the Champions League group game.
“We all know very well the importance of [Hazard] for us,” Conte added. “Now we must have patience to give him the possibility to improve his form, but I am pleased for him because after a bad injury it’s great to see him with us.”