Chelsea boss Antonio Conte insists it is too early to compare Eden Hazard to world greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Hazard has been rewarded with a superb period of form by being named Player of the Month for October.

The Belgium international has bounced back from a disappointing season last term to help Chelsea challenge for the title once again.

He has been likened to Messi and Ronaldo many times in his career, but Conte doesn’t want this pressure placed on his shoulders.

Conte said: “I think we have to go, like the team, step by step. It's important now that Eden is showing his talent and playing very well.

“Then if we want to compare him with the other players? That's not right at this moment.

“He has all the potential to do great things in his career. But, for now, it's important he's putting himself in the team. That's the best situation for us.

“I’m pleased for him (regarding the October award) because he is playing fantastic football and is working very well in the training sessions.

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“He is showing a great attitude and commitment. He is a fantastic player. In this moment he’s a great player because he’s working a lot for the team.

“It is fantastic when a player with this type of talent put his talent in the team. It is very good for the team.”

Hazard and striker Diego Costa have been key to the club’s five-game winning streak, but suffered injury scares during the international break while with Belgium and Spain respectively.

Conte says both players are available for the trip to Middlesbrough on Sunday, but admits seeing them suffer a problem while they were away did give him a scare.

He added: “I'm always worried when I see that there is a probability that one player of my team, of my squad, is not able to play the game. But it's important to play for the national team.

“Until now, so far, we were lucky because no one player came back from the national team injured after the international break.

“I have all the players available. They are in good form. Costa had a bit of an injury after the game against Everton and started to train with us on Wednesday.

“But his physical condition is good. There is also tomorrow to see perfectly the situation. But, at the moment, he can play. Hazard is fit, yes. Only a tackle. But he recovered very well.”

There is still a suspicion that Chelsea will struggle to sustain their challenge at the top of the table should key players like Hazard and Costa spend time on the sidelines.

Asked by Standard Sport if he felt Chelsea had the squad to compete if they suffer injuries, he added: Yes, yes. We have a squad, a complete squad.

“It's normal that, during a season, it can happen that there are some injuries. But now we have a good squad to have some substitutions if there are some injuries.”

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