Chelsea boss Antonio Conte believes that now is the right time for Eden Hazard to start a game and play for the full course of 90 minutes.

The Belgian had been out of action since June and had only returned to action recently with two second-half substitute appearances in the league and one more against Qarabag in the Champions League.




But Conte, speaking ahead of Chelsea's EFL Cup tie against Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, says now Hazard is ready to play for the full 90 minutes.

"Now is the right moment for Eden to start the game and try to play the whole game", Conte said at a press conference.
 


"I hope for him it is the final step from his injury. We have managed his situation very well."  

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Citing examples from his own playing career, the former Juventus manager said that he has a bit of experience about injuries and knows that waiting for the right time is the most important thing.

"In my career I was injured a lot of times, and I have a bit of experience about this.

"Now he is ready to start the game."

Conte also took time to speak about one more player in the form of Pedro Rodriguez, who has also been unlucky with injuries.

"Pedro has not been lucky this season.

"He started the season with a bad injury in the Arsenal friendly game where he broke a bone in his face, and then he received a knock on his ankle, and now his leg.

"I hope for him to be luckier in the future.

"Pedro is trying to recover from the last injury.

"It’s important for him also to work.

"Don’t forget when you are injured you can’t work, and sometimes you can lose your best physical condition.

"His last injury is nothing serious but he needs a bit of time to recover."