Eden Hazard controls the ball during a training session at the Metropolitano stadium in Madrid (AP)

Antonio Conte will rest Eden Hazard for tonight’s Champions League game between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, predicts Sky Sports presenter and ex-Arsenal player Charlie Nicholas.

The Belgian has missed most of the season through injury but has been returning to the fold in recent weeks.

Having been given some action with the international side he’s since made four substitute appearances against Leicester, Qarabag, Arsenal and Stoke and one start, coming in the League Cup against Nottingham Forest last week.

But despite his seeming readiness to start tonight’s match in the Spanish capital, ex-Arsenal striker Nicholas believes Conte will have one eye on Chelsea’s clash with Man City on Saturday.

‘Would you play Eden Hazard? He doesn’t look sharp yet and while his touch is there I don’t see that drive to produce those slalom runs which make him really dangerous,’ he told Sky Sports.

‘I think Antonio Conte might not put him in because they’ve got Manchester City coming next and I think they’ll be quite happy just to not lose this, especially after they struggled against Arsenal.’

It would be a big call by Conte to leave him out (Getty)
Hazard has started just one Chelsea game this season (Getty)

While Hazard could miss the match, or perhaps be restricted to a substitute appearance, fellow Chelsea attacker Alvaro Morata will hope to continue his blistering start to the season.

‘Alvaro Morata is in red-hot form and will want to make a point returning to Madrid, but the man I’m going for to separate the game is Yannick Carrasco, who has scored in his last two,’ said Nicholas.

Tonight’s Champions League meeting at the Metropolitano kicks off at 7.45pm.

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