Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard has returned to light training as he steps up his recovery from a serious ankle injury.
Hazard, 26, suffered a broken ankle on international duty with Belgium at the beginning of June that required surgery and was set to keep him out for around three months.
He has already missed out on the preseason tour to China and Singapore, with Chelsea taking on Bayern Munich in Tuesday, but he was pictured on the training pitch at Cobham back in England on Monday well ahead of schedule.
Chelsea receive injury boost as Eden Hazard returns to light training ahead of new Premier League season https://t.co/Vx0zrNFINN pic.twitter.com/AHi7XJRDQy
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) July 24, 2017
Hazard was pivotal to Chelsea's Premier League success last season, scoring 16 goals from 36 appearances as the Blues won the title in Antonio Conte's first season in charge.
It was feared the forward might to be out of action until September at the very least, but the club will now be hoping he could be available sooner.