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Eden Hazard to miss Chelsea's finale after dental surgery, FWA says

Eden Hazard is set to miss his first Premier League game of the season on Sunday after having emergency dental surgery to remove three wisdom teeth.

The 23-year-old Belgium playmaker is the PFA and Football Writers' Association player of the year after an outstanding season, though he will be forced to miss Thursday night's FWA dinner while recovering.

The FWA said Hazard would also be unavailable for Chelsea on Sunday against Sunderland, after which the Blues will be presented with the Premier League trophy.

A statement from the FWA read: "2015 Footballer of the Year Eden Hazard has had emergency dental surgery and will be unable to collect his award in person tonight. Hazard tried to delay the surgery but had to have three wisdom teeth removed on Wednesday and is still in considerable pain.

"He is deeply sorry to miss the awards dinner and hopes to be at Stamford Bridge on Sunday when the FWA will hand over the trophy.

"Previous winner Gianfranco Zola will pay tribute to Hazard at tonight's function and Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck will deliver a message from the player.

"The surgery means Hazard will not feature in Chelsea's final game against Sunderland -- the first Premier League game he will have missed this season.''

Hazard sent a message of gratitude on Twitter, writing:

Ahead of the ceremony, Zola said he believes Eden Hazard has the ideal conditions to attain even greater heights at Chelsea and under Jose Mourinho.

The 23-year-old Belgium playmaker is the PFA and Football Writers' Association player of the year after an outstanding season.

Zinedine Zidane recently spoke of his admiration for Hazard, leading to suggestions of a possible move to Real Madrid, but the forward signed a five-and-a-half year contract earlier this season and is valued at "£100 million each leg" by Mourinho.

Zola, voted Chelsea's greatest ever player by fans, told Press Association Sport: "I don't think Chelsea would be willing to let him go and he has signed a new contract. It will be great for Chelsea and for him if he stays.

"He's got perfect conditions to keep improving and to try to get to another level. I believe Chelsea really can provide that for him.

"He's an amazing player. You like to see players like him playing. He's one of those players you'd pay for a ticket to go and watch, even if you don't support the team he's playing for. This year he's been very effective. He's learnt to use his qualities in the best way to be more effective for himself and his team.

"I can see him getting better and better because he's young and he plays for a team and a manager that will be pushing him to improve all the time."

Zola also said he believes Chelsea are deserving Premier League champions.

"I don't think Chelsea winning the title has ever been in doubt," Zola said. "That tells you all about how dominant and good they've been. At the beginning of the season they produced some fantastic football as well. Probably some of the best football we've seen from Chelsea.

"Towards the end of the season they became more pragmatic. But it was an important stage of the season to play like that. The Premier League is a type of league that demands a lot. It's very difficult to play the same standard of football throughout it."

Information from Press Association was used in this report.

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