Thorgan Hazard is beginning to shake off his brother's shadow

When I arrived in the Belgian league people often said 'that's Eden's brother'. Now I get less of that. The Belgian fans know who I am and what I am worth. And so much the better.

-Thorgan Hazard. Source: Telegraph.

If not for the distinction of being Eden Hazard's little brother, Thorgan Hazard's arrival at Chelsea would have gone largely unheralded. It wasn't just followers of the Belgian league who thought of him in terms of his more illustrious sibling -- from the moment he arrived at Stamford Bridge Blues fans have been skeptical. The authors here were certainly no different; I myself thought he'd been acquired solely for the purpose of keeping a big-money signing happy.

So when Hazard (Thorgan edition) was loaned out to Zulte Waregem, it was met with a shrug of the shoulders and questions about why a Harry Potter villain was in the business of acquiring young footballers. Turns out we didn't do young Thorgan the justice he deserved.

Zulte now find themselves at the top of the league, in line to reach the Champions League qualification rounds, and Hazard's had plenty to do with it. He's not his brother, because his brother is a magical creature sent from the heavens to help make up for this season, but it's time we start thinking about Thorgan as a legitimate prospect in his own right and not just a dude whom we own because Eden thought it would be neat to have family around.

So, Thorgan, I'm sorry for assuming you were at Chelsea due to nepotism. You're well on your way to proving the rest of your doubters wrong as well.