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Yet another minor injury concern for Hazard and Belgium ahead of Euro 2016 quarterfinals

Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images

We used to not be concerned about Eden Hazard and injuries.  The man used to be able to take a licking, and keep on ticking.  Or ten lickings.

But all those seasons of leading the league (and sometimes Europe, too) in fouls drawn seem to have caught up with him this year.  On a long enough timeline, even Eden Hazard manages to get injured.

Trouble is, he picked up several fairly long-term injuries last season, which, in addition to his already poor form at the start of the season, severely limited him for the rest of the campaign.  He finally returned healthy and strong at the end of the season, with performances to match (sorry*, Spurs!) and so far he's continued those at Euro 2016 as well.  Many were calling his game against Hungary the best individual performance of the tournament.

Unsurprisingly, Belgium national team head coach Marc Wilmots is doing his best to keep Hazard wrapped in cotton wool.

"Hazard felt a kind of thigh contraction at half-time against Hungary, that's why I replaced him in the second half."

"I think he will be back in training on Thursday. He is in the care of the physios and is working with them. He is recovering well enough that he should be 100 per cent the day before the match."

-Marc Wilmots; source: FourFourTwo

Hazard was held out of training a couple weeks ago as well in a similar sort of precaution, so hopefully it's once again nothing more than that.  Belgium take on Wales in the quarterfinals on Friday.

* not sorry

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