Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has hinted that playmaker Eden Hazard will be staying put this season after the pair sat down for talks following his return from the World Cup.

The Belgium international was given an extended break after he helped his side finish third in Russia in July.

He and the rest of the players that played at the World Cup returned to training on Monday and were thrown straight into action by Sarri. Hazard scored the winning penalty as Chelsea beat Lyon at Stamford Bridge in Tuesday night’s friendly. Sarri has now confirmed the pair have sat down on more than one occasion and he is determined to keep him this season.

He told reporters: “I don’t see a problem in this moment. I have spoken with Eden two or three times in the last two days. “He has spoken of everything. I think this problem – the Hazard problem – is not present now.”

Another midfielder that looks set to remain at Stamford Bridge is Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with Sarri impressed by him after his spell on loan at Crystal Palace. The former Napoli boss added:

“He’s potentially a great player. He has to improve from a tactical point of view but I think it’s not a problem. “He is very young, he can be a very useful player for us.”

Both men could play their part this weekend as Chelsea open their Premier League campaign against Huddersfield Town.

The Terriers are 6.00 to win, the draw is 3.80 and the Blues are 1.62 to get off to a perfect start.