Chelsea winger Eden Hazard could be forgiven if he doesn't enjoy his birthday today as much as he may have done last year.
After all, the Belgium international, now 25, will spend his special day recovering from the injury he suffered in Chelsea's 3-0 win over Crystal Palace at the weekend, and perhaps reflecting on his disappointing season for the Blues so far.
The winger has failed to replicate his impressive form of last term for the struggling champions this season, and has scored 0 goals in 17 Premier League appearances and 27 games in all competitions for Chelsea.
In stark contrast, Hazard had already netted eight league goals and 11 in all competitions by this point last year.
After turning 24 last January, the Belgian scored a further six league goals - including the winner in Chelsea's victory over Palace in May that clinched the Premier League title - one goal in the Capital One Cup and one in the Champions League draw with PSG.
What does January hold for Chelsea?
In total, Hazard scored a total of 14 league goals and notched up eight assists last season - a tally that helped the winger claim the PFA Player of the Year, Football Writers' Association and Chelsea's Player of the Year awards.
However, this term has been a very different story for the forward.
Hazard has struggled to inspire Chelsea, indeed like many of his teammates, as he so often did last season with the Blues having suffered a disastrous title defence, which cost Jose Mourinho his job in December and has left the Blues languishing in the bottom half of the table.
"I’m very happy. One day I want to be the best and what I did this season is play very well, Chelsea played very well," Hazard said upon winning the PFA Player of the Year award last term.
"I continue like I did last season - I try to be the same. I try to score more goals than last season. Personally I have played a good season, I have been there in the big games and I scored a lot of important goals, this is why I’m better this season."
He may have failed to do just that this season, but Chelsea fans - and most certainly Hazard himself - will now be hoping to enjoy a better second half of the campaign following his 25th birthday.
Eden Hazard stats comparison:
| Season | Goals (Premier League) |
| 2014/15 (from 7 January to 24 May) | 6 |
| 2015/16 (from 8 August to 7 January) | 0 |
