David Moyes has said his preferred way of stopping Eden Hazard in tomorrow’s London derby would be to man-mark the Chelsea forward - if only he had the players capable of doing so.

The West Ham United manager said he does not have a player in his squad who he believes is able to go toe-to-toe with Hazard at the London Stadium.

Moyes used similar tactics during his time as Everton manager, when he once asked midfielder Jack Rodwell to man-mark Manchester City’s David Silva.

Hazard has been in irrepressible form for Chelsea in recent weeks, scoring eight goals in his last 11 games as Antonio Conte’s side have rediscovered some of the cutting-edge that propelled them to the Premier League title last season.

“There are occasions when I would consider man-marking,” said Moyes. “Hazard is a player who would definitely come into that category.

“The problem is that I don’t know if I have got someone who is that type of player to be a man-marker. You’ve heard the saying ‘if he goes to the toilet, follow him’. I don’t know if I have got that.

“It needs to be people who are athletic and quick. You say to them, ‘don’t you think about doing anything else, this is your job’, because he is that important.

West Ham have gone eight games without a win in the league credit: afp

“Looking through the squad we have got at the moment, I couldn’t really identify anyone who could do that, but tactically it would not be a bad idea to stop him.”

Conte said Hazard, who finished only 19th in the prestigious Ballon d’Or rankings earlier this week, has the characteristics to rival the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the best players in the world.

“He is an important player for us and during games he can make the difference for us,” the Chelsea manager said. “I like to call it a ‘sacred fire’, when you have it inside you, the will to win every game, to score goals.

“Every one of us, we have this sacred fire and we have to find the right solution to improve it. At this level you must have this type of situation. Then the flame can be big or little. When you have an inferno it means you are like Messi, Ronaldo or Neymar.

“Eden has the right characteristics to try to fight with these giants. He has the characteristics, so then he has to try to do this.”

West Ham host Chelsea having gone eight games without a win in the league. They have conceded 32 goals in 15 games this season, more than any other Premier League side.

“The goals against column would tell you the defence has not protected the goalkeeper enough, and not been good enough and strong enough,” said Moyes.

The West Ham manager is expected to drop goalkeeper Joe Hart from the side after Spanish goalkeeper Adrian impressed in Hart’s absence against Manchester City last week, when the Englishman was ineligible.

David Moyes has a tough decision to make in goal credit: REUTERS

But Moyes has no intention of allowing Hart’s season-long loan deal from City to be cut short, even if he has fallen behind Adrian in the pecking order.

“I don’t think we could work here without two top goalkeepers,” said Moyes. “What if we got an injury? Who would we play?”

Hart remains England’s first-choice goalkeeper, but may be unable to keep his place in Gareth Southgate’s side if he is no longer playing at a domestic level.

Southgate has made it clear that players need to be featuring regularly for their club sides if they hope to make the England team ahead of next summer’s World Cup.