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Chelsea's Hazard to miss Belgium date with calf concern

Action Images via Reuters / Jason Cairnduff

Chelsea star Eden Hazard will miss an upcoming match with Belgium after the calf injury that saw him sidelined for the Blues' late winner over Stoke City on Saturday has exempted the player from international duty.

Red Devils manager Roberto Martinez confirmed the news Monday, telling the Evening Standard, "Eden has suffered an injury before the match against Stoke, it does not look so serious.

"But he will not play against Greece. We are going to follow the injury," the former Everton gaffer added ahead of the visit from the 2004 Euro champion.

Hazard, 26, was named to Martinez's 27-man squad on Friday for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Greece three days before a friendly against Russia at Sochi's Fisht Olympic Stadium.

Related: Lethal attack highlights Belgium call-ups

"It is a big disappointment for Eden that he cannot lead the team. If you want to be a good team, you have to absorb everything," Martinez added.

Chelsea next hosts Crystal Palace in Premier League play on the other side of the international window four days before Manchester City pays the Blues a visit at Stamford Bridge.

While neither the Premier League leader or Belgium provided a time frame for Hazard's return, should he miss the visit from Palace on April 1, Antonio Conte will likely start a front-three of Willian, Diego Costa, and Pedro after employing the same attack against Stoke.

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