Footballer of the Year Eden Hazard has had emergency dental surgery and will be unable to collect his award in person tonight.
Hazard tried to delay the surgery but had to have three wisdom teeth removed on Wednesday and is still in considerable pain.
He is deeply sorry to miss the awards dinner and hopes to be at Stamford Bridge on Sunday when the FWA will hand over the trophy.
Previous winner Gianfranco Zola will pay tribute to Hazard at tonight’s function and Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck will deliver a message from the player.
The surgery means Hazard will almost certainly miss Chelsea’s final game against Sunderland - the first Premier League game he will have missed this season.
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