International friendly preview: England v Belgium

Chelsea-bound Eden Hazard may go up against his future team-mates when England host Belgium in Roy Hodgson’s second match in charge.

Belgian Hazard is widely reportedly to be on the verge of joining European champions Chelsea, for a fee rumoured to as much as 32 million pounds.

The playmaker became one of the most highly sought-after talents in Europe after guiding unheralded Lille to a double of Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France in 2010/11.

And it is Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea, yet to appoint a fulltime manager and with caretaker Roberto di Matteo in limbo, who appear to have succeeded in luring the 21-year-old.

His imminent stardom may have already gone to his head – Hazard was late to leave his hotel room on Tuesday, and found the team bus had left for training without him.

According to national team coach Marc Wilmots, Hazard has been ordered to purchase a bottle of champagne as a forfeit.

Champagne will be in order again if his move to Chelsea is finalised, where he will join countrymen Kevin de Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.

Another Belgian international, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, is also a Chelsea player, although he spent last term on loan at Atletico Madrid.

Following their penalty shootout victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League on May 19, England’s Chelsea contingent sat out the 1-0 victory away to Norway last week.

But defenders John Terry, Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill, together with midfielder Frank Lampard, could all come under consideration for selection on Saturday, when Hodgson takes charge of his first match at Wembley.

But England will have to do without Gareth Barry after a groin injury suffered against Norway ruled the Manchester City midfielder out of Euro 2012. Everton’s Phil Jagielka has been called up as a replacement.

Hazard will be expected to pull the strings for the visitors, as a key member of the Belgium team who finished third behind Turkey and Germany in their qualifying group for Euro 2012.

Courtois and De Bruyne were not included in the squad to face Hodgson’s team, but there will be other faces familiar to English players and spectators alike.

Premier League-based Belgians selected by Wilmots include Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen, Everton’s midfield powerhouse Marouane Fellaini, Fulham’s Moussa Dembele and Manchester City’s title-winning captain Vincent Kompany.

Belgium’s most recent friendly outing on Friday ended in a 2-2 draw at home to Montenegro, who finished second behind England in Group G of Euro 2012 qualifying.