Eden Hazard underwent ankle surgery during the summer (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea are hopeful Eden Hazard will make his long-awaited return to action against Leicester City next month.

The Belgium international underwent surgery on his ankle last summer having picked up an injury on international duty after the domestic season had finished.

The 26-year-old took no part in the club’s pre-season campaign and missed the opening game of Chelsea’s Premier League title defence, a shock 3-2 defeat against Burnley, last Saturday.

Hazard trained with the rest of his Chelsea teammates for the first time since his operation on Tuesday but, despite the temptation, Antonio Conte is unlikely to rush his star forward back, according to the Evening Standard.

Hazard trained with his teammates for the first time since May on Tuesday (Picture: Jim Bennett)
Tiemoue Bakayoko, the summer signing from Monaco, also took part in the session (Picture: Jim Bennett)

After the embarrassing defeat against Sean Dyche’s side, Chelsea will be attempting to get back to winning ways against Spurs at Wembley on Sunday but will again be forced to do without key personnel.

Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas are both suspended, while Pedro is yet to shake off the ankle injury which ruled him out of the Burnley defeat.

Tiemoue Bakyoko, like Hazard, trained on Tuesday but is still working his way back to full fitness ahead of his impending debut following his summer move from Monaco.

Hazard is unlikely to have recovered in time for next week’s trip to Goodison Park against big-spending Everton, but Chelsea are said to be hopeful he will be ready to play a part against Leicester on September 9 following the two-week international break.

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