Former Chelsea midfielder Gianfranco Zola has insisted that Eden Hazard's slump in form this campaign will help him to become a better player in the long term.

The Belgium international has, along with the majority of his teammates, failed to match the heights set last season when cruising to the Premier League title.

Zola, who found himself in a similar situation in the early days of his Stamford Bridge career, claims that the experience will stand Hazard in good stead and help him to become one of the world's best once again.

"Hazard is in a similar situation to I was at Chelsea in my second year," he is quoted as saying by the London Evening Standard. "The first year was very good, as it was for Hazard.

"He did so much, received so much recognition and now the spotlight is on him all the time and this is making everything he does a little more difficult.

"Every player goes through this but in a way I think it will be good for him as it will make him think more about his game. So it's an opportunity for him to become a better player. He is young and has the potential to be one of the best."

Hazard has yet to find the net in the Premier League this term, lagging some way behind the 14 he struck throughout the 2014-15 season.