MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 03:59:10| >> :120:14385:14385:

Brian McDermott wary of "phenomenal" Eden Hazard

McDermott wary of
© PA Photos
Reading manager Brian McDermott recalls the first time that he saw Eden Hazard as a 16-year-old playing in France.

Reading manager Brian McDermott has revealed that he first came across Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard five years ago while working as the Royals' chief scout.

McDermott, whose side visit Stamford Bridge in the Premier League tonight, says that even as a 16-year-old Hazard was "phenomenal".

"I would go to three games over the weekend starting on Friday night and one of them on this particular trip was at Lille," he recalled.

"You can't go to a place like Lille and say 'we'll take your best player', it just doesn't happen. But I remember watching him.

"He was phenomenal and everyone there knew at 16 what a talent he was going to be. He stood out like the proverbial sore thumb."

Hazard made 147 Ligue 1 appearances during his time with Lille, scoring 36 goals.

ID:41340: cacheID:41340:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1905:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Eden Hazard
Read Next:
Di Matteo: 'Hazard can be like Zola'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
10Fulham125341717018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Crystal Palace121561017-78
19Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!