West Ham assistant manager Kevin Nolan has said he would offer Eden Hazard a trial if he does reconsider his retirement from professional football.

The former Chelsea winger announced earlier this week that he has ended his playing career at the age of 32, but Nolan says he would be keen on bringing the Belgian to the London Stadium were he to change his mind:

“I’d have the Hazard of Chelsea at West Ham. I’m sure if he wanted to come and trial we’d, I mean, I’d certainly be willing to. I don’t know about the gaffer [David Moyes]. But I’d certainly want to trial him! Some of the best years in the Premier League, he’s been part of and some of the best goals.”

Nolan says the fact that Hazard is still only 32 means there is a chance that the winger may make a U-turn on his decision; something that Paul Scholes did at Manchester United:

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we got a little bit of a reverse on that in the next six months to a year. I just think at 32, he’s just put out that he’s retired. There’s been so many times, I remember when [Paul] Scholes done it. Then he got a phone call from Sir Alex [Ferguson] and he was like ‘oh yeah, I will come back’.”

“I just think something like that could happen with Hazard because someone is probably willing to give him the opportunity to say ‘go on, come in and play for us for six months’.”

Hazard’s injury problems would be a major concern

One of the key reasons why Hazard has decided to call it a day is down to the sheer number of injuries he has picked up since leaving Chelsea four years ago.

During his time at Real Madrid, the Belgian international was sidelined for 95 games, spending 500 days on the treatment table. If he were ever to return to play professionally, he would need to prove he can stay fit for long periods. At this moment in time, it appears he has no desire to make a comeback so West Ham fans shouldn’t expect him turning up at Rush Green any time soon.

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