Hazard tipped to improve

Eden Hazard: Tipped to shine by Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo

Roberto Di Matteo was delighted to see Eden Hazard make a positive first impression on Sunday, but believes the youngster can do even better.

Chelsea's big-money summer signing made a dream start to his Premier League career against Wigan, providing two assists inside the opening seven minutes of a 2-0 win.

Hazard will be back in action for the Blues against Reading on Wednesday, with a midweek encounter allowing him to make his Stamford Bridge bow.

The home support will be expecting big things from the talented 21-year-old, and Di Matteo is backing the Belgium international to deliver.

Reflecting on Hazard's performance at the DW Stadium, Di Matteo said: "He left his mark on the game.

"In pre-season, he showed that kind of quality in training. Now, in the Premier League, hopefully there's more to come from him."

That could depend on how Hazard deals with the kind of rough treatment dished out to him by Wigan, something he shrugged off afterwards.

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"In pre-season, he showed that kind of quality in training. Now, in the Premier League, hopefully there's more to come from him."
Roberto Di Matteo Quotes of the week

Di Matteo said: "He was certainly targeted, but I don't think there was any malicious intent by the Wigan players.

"It's just difficult to mark players like that."

It is just as well Hazard looks like settling in so quickly, with Brazil international Oscar still finding his feet in England and fellow new boy Marko Marin currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Di Matteo revealed on Tuesday that Marin may have to wait almost another month to make his debut.

"It won't be long for Marin, but it might not be before the international break," he said.

He added of Oscar: "We're slowly looking to integrate him, like we did with the other new signings.

"He's not been long with us, so we need to give him the right time to get him used to his new team members and the team, and our tactics, and slowly put him into the team."