In addition to concerns over just how long it's taken him to finally get going this season, there were fresh (albeit slight) concerns ahead of Saturday's match over Hazard's health as well. Chelsea's best player had to pull out of Belgium's eventually canceled friendly against Spain due to an illness. It was supposedly a minor ailment, but with information scarce, we were left guessing.
Fortunately, any and all concerns were unfounded. Hazard looked healthy and well, and perhaps for the first time all season, back to his old self. Norwich City may have looked at the 19 previous matches (of which 18 had featured our Player of the Year) and thought to themselves that they'd be in for an easier day than the names in the lineup would usually indicate. Hazard ensured that would not be the case, running ragged whichever yellow-shirted defender or midfielder dared to get in his path.
Last season we got a bit caught up in talking about whether Hazard can ever reach the stratosphere of Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. After 20 matches, I'm just glad he's finally back to his own level.