MODEST Cherries star Ryan Fraser insisted he was “never going to be near” Eden Hazard but revealed he tried to learn from watching the Belgian maestro.

The pair could come face-to-face when Cherries tomorrow visit Stamford Bridge (3pm), with both clubs unbeaten in the top flight this season.

Hazard played an instrumental role in captaining Belgium to third place at the World Cup in Russia – the nation’s best performance.

The former PFA player of the year opened his account for the domestic campaign when he found the net from the penalty spot during the Blues’ 2-1 win at Newcastle on Sunday.

Fraser himself has been in electric form this season, scoring against Cardiff and MK Dons as well as providing an assist with a well-delivered free-kick against West Ham.

In an interview in April 2017, Cherries boss Eddie Howe said: “Hopefully, we can turn Ryan into the Hazard of the future.”

Speaking about the Chelsea star, winger Fraser told the Daily Echo: “I am never going to be near him, I know that, but if I can take little snippets out of his game then it will make me a better player and that’s all I can ask.

“He gets in situations where you think he is going to get tackled and he comes out with the ball. He gets goals and assists and is someone who I watch.”

Under new boss Maurizio Sarri, who succeeded Antonio Conte in the summer, Chelsea have scored eight times on their way to recording maximum points from three league contests.

“They keep the ball well and they are so much better to watch on the eye this season than they were last season,” added the Scotland international.

“They were very structured in the way they played under Conte. This season, they just look like they are playing with freedom.

“But we will go into it with a lot of positives and will try to put our game on them. We need to test ourselves against the best and I think they will be in the top four.”