MX23RW : Thursday, November 14 02:57:31| >> :120:22961:22961:

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
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
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!