Chelsea star Eden Hazard calms injury fears after Stoke win, promises to play Boxing Day match versus West Ham United

Eden Hazard has played down an injury scare that threatened to cast a shadow over Chelsea's 2-0 win over Stoke City and believes he will be fit for Boxing Day's clash with West Ham United.

Hazard, 23, was excellent throughout his side's win at the Britannia Stadium on Monday night but was forced to limp out of action in added time after a robust challenge from Jonathan Walters.

The Belgian looked in real discomfort as he was replaced by Kurt Zouma, but later assured reporters the injury was not serious.

"That will be alright," Hazard was quoted as saying by Belgian daily Nieuwsblad. "I'll be able to play on Boxing Day."

Hazard was at the centre of a series of strong challenges throughout Monday's game that saw his side assured top spot in the Premier League on Christmas, the most notable a first half incident which resulted in Phil Bardsley being booked.

The Stoke full back flew in on the Blues winger with a reckless challenge which provoked the ire of Jose Mourinho, who was quick to praise the attitude of his player.

"At the time it looks to me like a red card, but I don't know," Mourinho said after the win. "What I do know was that if it was a bad tackle, it was the only one. The game was clean, the game was good. The game was aggressive but the game was good."

Shortly after being scythed down by Bardsley, Hazard brought an end to a Chelsea attack by sportingly putting the ball out of play after noticing the Stoke defender had gone down with a foot injury.

"[Hazard] gave his body to the game, put himself in lots of creative situations and the kid was fantastic. It was a difficult fight for the kid, but also difficult for Bardsley, as the kid was fantastic," said Mourinho.

"One moment showed clear what [Hazard] is. Bardsley was injured, and a few minutes after that tackle it was Eden who put the ball of play. I wouldn't do it for a player who kicked me a few minutes before."

Chelsea host West Ham United on Boxing Day.