Eden Hazard is yet to start a game for Chelsea this season (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea star Eden Hazard is capable of reaching the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Frank Lampard.

Hazard is currently building up his fitness after suffering an ankle injury while on international duty in June and played 30 minutes of Chelsea’s emphatic victory over Qarabag in their Champions League opener on Tuesday night.

The Belgian playmaker enjoyed another superb season during the 2016-17 campaign and will hope to rediscover his top form having marked his return from the treatment room this week.

Lampard, who is Chelsea’s all-time record goalscorer, believes the 26-year-old has the ‘magic’ to reach a similar level to modern greats Messi and Ronaldo.

‘A great plus today with [Eden] Hazard who came on at the weekend and came on again today,’ Lampard told BT Sport.

The 26-year-old suffered an ankle injury earlier in the summer (Picture: Getty)

‘I feel that he’ll be involved at the weekend and going forward. He’s the magic in the Chelsea team.

‘If Eden Hazard’s on his game he’s got the magic that we talk about with the Messi’s and Ronaldo’s – he can get towards that level.’

Antonio Conte has downplayed Chelsea’s chances of lifting the Champions League trophy this season but Lampard reckons his former side can go far in the competition.

‘I think they do [have enough strength in depth to compete],’ the ex-England midfielder added.

Former Chelsea and England midfielder Frank Lampard (Picture: Getty)
Antonio Conte’s side dazzled on their Champions League return (Picture: Getty)

‘They’re the unknowns. We talk about [Alvaro] Morata being their main man. He’s the form man and he needs to stay injury-free, especially for sure.

‘They are very well drilled. I do fancy their chances of going far because they are so well drilled and can defend, which we kept talking about before.’

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