Eden Hazard is expected to return to first-team action from an ankle injury on Sunday as Real Madrid hosts Celta Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Belgium international has struggled with fitness issue since making the move from Chelsea last summer.

He has been out since November, he took a knock in the UEFA Champions League match against PSG. But according to reports he is expected to make the matchday on Sunday.

Zinedine Zidane is not taking any risk with his star man, and he is not expected to start, he will make the bench and probably get few minutes of the action. Zidane will gradually introduce the Belgium international to match action so as to avoid any relapse in his troubling knee.

The former Blues forward has seen injury limits his chances in Spain, as has made only seven starts and scored one goal in Laliga so far this season.

Madrid have done well since the absence of their superstar, they manoeuvred the league and have taken the first position from Barca, they have a 3 points lead and they have remained unbeaten in the league since the 1-0 loss against Real Mallorca in October. A match Zidane described as the turning point and a wake-up call for his players.

Hazard was set for a return to first-team action against Osasuna last week, but Zidane stated that he is not prepared to take any chance with the playmaker holding to keep him for another week and watch his development.

Real Madrid will want to see Hazard return soon with some crucial fixtures on the horizon. The club plays Celta Vigo and Levante in La Liga and then take on Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League last 16.

The club also face a top-of-the-table clash with Barcelona at the start of March, a game which could go some way to deciding the destination of the 2019-20 title.