Injury update: Roberto Martinez offers injury update on Romelu Lukaku
Speaking to Belgian newspaper HLN as quoted by Football.London, Belgium boss Roberto Martinez has offered an update on the injury of Chelsea superstar Romelu Lukaku.
The 29-year-old striker got injured during Belgium’s 1-4 loss to the Netherlands in their opening match of the UEFA Nations League. Lukaku started the game but a collision with Dutch defender Nathan Ake in the 23rd minute meant that the burly striker had to come off.
This ankle is the same one that Lukaku injured back in October which kept him out of action for the Blues for quite a significant period. Injuries and Covid have not been kind to the former Inter Milan striker with the 29-year-old struggling ever since he made the return to Stamford Bridge.
Speaking about his star man’s prospects of playing again this season, Roberto Martinez was rather sceptical and did not offer much hope
“It doesn’t look good. He twisted his ankle. We have to wait 48 hours for the MRI scan, but I would be surprised if he is still in action in the coming games. That is my feeling.”
Not a happy homecoming?
When news emerged that Chelsea were about to bring Romelu Lukaku back home from Inter Milan last summer, it was a transfer that generated a lot of hype.
One year later, it is safe to say that things have not panned out as expected. The Belgian has struggled to reproduce the kind of form that made him a beast at Inter and he has often found himself on the periphery of Thomas Tuchel’s plans this season.
The 29-year-old has played 44 games for the German coach’s team this season scoring 15 goals and providing two assists across all competitions. Whilst those numbers don’t seem dismal, at least on paper, more is expected from a player of Lukaku’s quality.
Whilst the player is being linked with a move away from Chelsea already, the Blues must not rush into a decision with the talented striker. At his best, Lukaku is a world-class target man capable of banging in goals for fun and if he stays next season, Thomas Tuchel will be hoping his star man rediscovers his lost touch.
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This season hasn’t been kind to Lukaku and it has culminated with this unfortunate injury. However, if the Belgian stays at Stamford Bridge, don’t hold the cards against him coming back fit and firing and becoming the player he once was back in Inter.
With the FIFA World Cup set to take place in Qatar later this year, the former Everton and Manchester United star would also want to be in Martinez’s good books so he can lead the line for the Red Devils on the international stage.