Roberto Martinez has defended Eden Hazard for traveling out of Spain yet did not partake in Belgium’s Nations Cup games.

The 29-year old had a disappointing season last term, plagued by injuries to his right ankle, which saw him notch just one goal and seven assists in 22 matches.

The Red Devils played against Denmark and won by 2-0 before cruising past Iceland by 5-1 on Tuesday in Group 2 to maintain their first spot.

A section of Real Madrid fans were upset about why the player did not stay to train ahead of the upcoming La Liga season than to be with the national team and pay no quota to their progress yet Martinez explained that Hazard was not fit to be featured in the Nations League games.

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"Medically he's absolutely fine, it's just a question of being careful when bringing him back in," Martinez told Cadena Cope.

"Eden needed to work on his own to be able to start pre-season without any risks.

"He's not ready to play 90 minutes."

"If we'd had two friendlies, I'd have given him the chance to play 45 minutes and then 60," the Belgium coach explained.

"In a competitive match, you can't do that.

"He had a big injury and he's a player that has to be 100 percent if he wants to play."

The former Chelsea player will return to the Valdebebas on Friday to start pre-season, 10 days before the season begins for Los Blancos.