Hazard RETURNS to Real Madrid squad for LaLiga against Granada

Eden Hazard has returned to the Real Madrid squad after nearly a month out with a thigh strain.

The Belgian forward has been plagued by no fewer than eight injury issues since joining the club from Chelsea in 2019.

This season, a hamstring complaint, severe bruising and a positive coronavirus test preceded the injury suffered in Real's shock 2-1 defeat by Alaves last month.

But the 29-year-old has now made another return to Zinedine Zidane's 24-man squad that will host Granada on Wednesday evening after training this week, while midfielder Luka Modric is a notable absentee.

Since leaving Stamford Bridge for the Santiago Bernabeu for £88million, he has missed 35 matches, and even when he has returned to fitness he has only managed a maximum of three games before suffering setbacks.

This season, his fitness issues - which began when he arrived for pre-season seemingly overweight for the second season running - have limited him to six appearances and a goal a piece in LaLiga and the Champions League.

As revealed by Sportsmail at the start of the month, Hazard has so far cost the Spanish champions an eye-watering £118.8m given his transfer fee and subsequent £400,000-per-week wages.

The Belgian star will however be aware that he needs to start firing for Madrid soon enough after reports suggested he had lost the faith of Zidane.

The Frenchman denied that was the case, and dismissed the suggestion that Hazard would be mentally scarred after eight injuries in such a short space of time.

Zidane said recently: 'Sometimes injuries happen and we have to endure. He is strong, I have no doubt. He is having a hard time lately. We are going to help him to get better soon.

'It is a complicated situation for Eden. He has never been injured in his career and now has more misfortunes. He will surely come back stronger. We look forward to seeing him with us again.'

Madrid will be looking to keep pace with leaders Atletico Madrid when they welcome high-flying Granada to the Alfredo di Stefano, having won every single top-flight fixture since losing to Alaves.