2016-12-12

Aside from an inexplicable blip last season when Eden Hazard only managed to muster 5 goals, the Belgian trickster has been one of the stand-out stars in the Premier League since his arrival in 2012. During the 2016-17 campaign, the Chelsea winger has been back to his brilliant best, and is a prime candidate to win the PFA Player of the Year award for a second time.

Amazingly, Hazard can be backed at odds of 7/1 to reclaim his award from the 2014-15 season, and there is little to split the favourites who also include Kevin De Bruyne and Philippe Coutinho. Although the Manchester City and Liverpool stars have also been in red-hot form all season, Hazard is arguably the safest bet of the three frontrunners. Using a free bet recommendation from Oddschecker on the Chelsea frontman could offer up delicious returns.

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In the nine years since Hazard made the step up to Lille’s senior squad at the tender age of sixteen, the player has accumulated a number of accolades that recognise his exceptional footballing prowess. The 25-year-old has won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year and the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year twice, along with the PFA Young Player of the Year and the PFA Players’ Player of the Year once apiece. Along with these trophies, he was named in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for three years in succession between 2009 and 2012, and was also in the PFA Team of the Season for a trio of seasons between 2012 and 2015. In Hazard’s nine seasons playing at professional level prior to 2016-17, he has only missed out on a Young Player or Player of the Year award three times.

With all these achievements under his belt already, it is hard to believe that Hazard has yet to enter his peak footballing years. Evidence suggests, though, that in the current campaign he could be about to outdo all the performances that led him to claiming the Player of the Year Award two seasons ago.

Under the stewardship of new manager Antonio Conte, Chelsea are flying high and look like serious title contenders. The Stamford Bridge outfit are now at 3/1 with bookmakers to emerge as victors. In the five matches leading up to the third international break of the season, the Blues crushed each of their opponents and averaged 3.2 goals-a-match. Hazard has been at the heart of this resurgence, and opposition defences have not been able to deal with his constant movement and trickery (see below).

Hazard’s involvement has been exceptional. He has received a pass every 1.8 minutes, has completed a total of 44 successful dribbles, and has contributed to 33.3% of Chelsea’s goals. He is firing off a shot on goal every 27.6 minutes, and has a shot accuracy of 47.1%. His pass success rate of 82.3% in the final third is also up there with the best attackers in the league. With 7 goals and 3 assists to his name already, the stats suggest that he will continue this extraordinary output and beat his record of 14 goals and 10 assists in 2014-15 – the season in which he last won the PFA Player of the Year award.

Hazard’s compatriot De Bruyne could prove to be an obstacle that the Chelsea man has to outshine. The City record signing has bagged 2 goals and eight assists so far, and there is no doubt that he is the midfield mastermind in Pep Guardiola’s sleek setup. However, he has had injury concerns during his time at the Etihad, and has been subbed off in games already this term. He may also be rested more during crucial Champions League fixtures. Although he is a class act, it could be argued that De Bruyne isn’t quite as integral to City’s successes as Hazard is to Chelsea’s.

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The same could be said about the other main Player of the Year contender, Coutinho. The Brazilian has shown his best ever form in a Liverpool shirt during this campaign, but there are also a number of other stars that have been in stunning form, including Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. There is a sense that in this free flowing attack each member will get a chance to excel and put their name into the hat for the PFA award.

Weighing up form, raw ability, and a history of being an award magnet, Hazard has to be the favourite to pick up the PFA Player of the Year trophy next year. And with such mouth-watering odds, it would be a foolish bettor to ignore the Chelsea star.

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