Is Eden Hazard running on empty? Chelsea and Belgium midfielder complains of tiredness

Hazard has participated in 48 games this season for Chelsea and Belgium if you include their 1-0 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals at the outset of July.

He has missed only five games as Jose Mourinho's side have moved to the top of the Premier League table contributing 17 goals to Chelsea's handsome six-point lead over Manchester City with only nine games remaining.

Belgium joined Wales at the top of qualifying Group B, but it was a tough old slog for the high-rated Belgians, who reached the last eight of the World Cup finals in Brazil before themselves appearing to run out of steam.

National coach Marc Wilmots decided to withdraw Hazard and throw on Nacer Chadli with around 30 minutes of the match remaining after the attacking midfielder had endured a tough running battle with Orel Dgani.

Hazard said: "I was a little bit surprised to be substituted. Also, I was a little bit unhappy and I think you could see that I was unhappy.

"I asked the coach for a reason and he told me that I was tired. Maybe I was a little bit tired. I’ve played a lot of games this season."

Wilmots appeared to reach the same conclusion as his player, who had seem a little bit mystified when he saw his number was up.

"Hazard is not hurt, but I had the impression that he was tired," said Wilmots. "In these kind of games, you have to react immediately because we did not have time."

Our view: Difficult to buy such a line in this day and age. Especially from a Premier League player in peak condition. We get the feeling that Hazard wasn't having his best night against a decent Israel lot, and decided to wheel out a standard excuse when Wilmots opted for a change. At the age of 24, something is very wrong if a few days rest does not inspire Hazard to be back on top form in Chelsea's bid for their first national title since 2010. Starting with the visit of Stoke City to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening.