Injury woes continue for Eden Hazard as Real Madrid attacker is ruled out for six weeks

Belgian picks up thigh problem in training and is set to miss crucial games against Atalanta in the Champions League and La Liga leaders Atletico on the domestic front

Eden Hazard celebrates with Marco Asensio after scoring Real Madrid's third goal against Alaves on January 23. Reuters

Eden Hazard scores Real Madrid's third goal against Alaves at Mendizorroza stadium. AP

Eden Hazard starts to celebrate after scoring Real Madrid's third goal. Reuters

Real Madrid players celebrate with Eden Hazard after he scored the team's third goal.AP Photo

Real Madrid players celebrate with Eden Hazard after he scored the team's third goal. AFP

Eden Hazard skips a challenge frrom Florian Lejeune of Deportivo Alaves. Getty Images

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior in action with Deportivo Alaves' Edgar Mendez. Reuters

Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring Real Madrid's fourth goal. AP Photo

Karim Benzema celebrates after scoring Real Madrid's fourth goal. AFP

Karim Benzema celebrates with Luka Modric and Casemiro after scoring Real Madrid's fourth goal. Getty Images

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois makes a save from Alaves strikr Joselu. Getty Images

Joselu celebrates scoring Alaves' first goal against Real Madrid. Reuters

Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard has suffered yet another injury in a torrid campaign and is set to be out for up to six weeks with a thigh problem.

The former Chelsea attacker, who had missed the previous day's session due to fatigue, injured a muscle in his left thigh during training on Wednesday.

Real did not state for how long Hazard, 30, would be out although Spanish newspaper Marca indicated he would be sidelined for between four and six weeks.

He is ruled out of Saturday's La Liga trip to Huesca, the home game with Getafe and is almost certain to miss the Champions League last-16 first leg game at Atalanta on February 24 and their trip to league leaders Atletico Madrid on March 7.

Hazard, who joined Real from Chelsea for a club record €100 million in 2019, had his first season disrupted by two major ankle injuries and has had three separate spells on the sidelines this campaign.

He missed six weeks at the start of the season with an ankle injury and then was forced to miss two weeks in November after testing positive for Covid-19.

His return from the virus barely lasted 10 days due to a hamstring injury which prevented him from waiting six weeks for his next Real start, away to Osasuna on January 9.

He showed signs of his ability with a goal and impressive individual performance in a 4-1 win at Alaves on January 23 but hopes of a full return to form have been dealt a fresh blow with this latest muscle injury.

Hazard has made only six La Liga starts this season and has only completed 90 minutes in one league match in his short and troubled Real career.

He netted just one goal across 22 appearances in his debut campaign in Spain, although Madrid ended up winning their first league title in three years. Hazard has three strikes in 13 games this campaign.

Also on Wednesday, Real captain Sergio Ramos returned to full training for the first time on Wednesday after over two weeks out with a knee injury.