Eden Hazard will undergo surgery for a fractured ankle he suffered during training on Sunday. Hazard will be out three months and miss the start of next season.

There is some relief that Hazard, who was scanned by the national side and has since been assessed by Chelsea’s medical staff, appears to have suffered only minimal ligament damage.

“Hazard broke a bone in his lower ankle, luckily not his shin,” said the Belgium team doctor, Kris Van Crombrugge. “Ligaments usually get torn with this kind of injury, but on the scan we saw minimal ligament damage. It’s very limited, which means his recovery will be smooth. It will be fine, for the full 100%. In three months he should be fully recovered. Eden knows that is very realistic. He remains optimistic, even after this injury. He will return as a top player: in three months he will play again with a perfect ankle.”

Hazard had expected to enter contract talks with Chelsea on an extension.