Belgium wing back Timothy Castagne says they are not expecting captain Eden Hazard to sparkle in the early stages of the World Cup as hasn’t played much for Real Madrid this season.

Forward Hazard, who is 31, has had a tough three years in Madrid because of injuries. He hasn’t lived up to his star billing after seven great years at Chelsea.

He has had trouble staying on the first team and finding his best form. He has only started two Real Madrid games this season, even though he has started six of Belgium’s seven games since the end of last season.

Castagne, a wingback for Leicester City, says that fans shouldn’t expect too much from the unpredictable talent, at least at first.

“For Belgium, the fans would like to rediscover the Eden of a few years ago,” sad Castagne, 27, from Belgium’s World Cup base in Salwa Beach, 90 kilometres south of Doha.

“It’s not easy to come here without any match rhythm, so it will take time.

“He won’t arrive (at his best) straight away, he won’t be amazing in the first match but bit by bit he will improve.”

Hazard was an important part of the Belgium team that made it to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia four years ago. He scored twice in a 5-2 win over Tunisia and once in a 2-0 win over England.

A year later, he moved from west London to Madrid for a reported 100 million euros plus add-ons, making him the most expensive player the Merengue has ever signed.

But the move hasn’t worked out the way he wanted, and Hazard didn’t play when Real beat Liverpool 1-0 in May to win the Champions League.

Hazard said earlier this week that he might leave Real at the end of the season, but he added that he still wants to do well in Madrid.

He will need a good World Cup to try to get Real coach Carlo Ancelotti to put him back in the starting lineup regularly or to get the club to renew his contract, which runs out in 18 months.