‘I’m sure’: Ray Parlour says Lukaku needs these two Chelsea players in XI with him

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Ray Parlour claims that Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku really needs to have teammates Reece James and Ben Chilwell playing alongside him to be at his best.

Unfortunately, 28-year-old Blues striker Lukaku has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons after his weekend performance in the Premier League.

He managed only seven touches (WhoScored) in the 1-0 win away to Crystal Palace, so even more question marks are surrounding his current position.

Lukaku’s scored 10 goals in 28 games across all competitions so far this season since joining from Inter Milan.

However, the forward has fallen a long way short of expectations on him.

TalkSPORT pundit Parlour has raised the point that the Chelsea number nine is struggling without James and Chilwell, who have both been sidelined in recent weeks through injury. Parlour is “sure” the best version of Lukaku can arrive if he’s playing with the England full-backs, though.

“You’ve got to play to his strengths, he’s a player that needs services, needs crossing and he’s a brilliant header of the ball if you watch him the way he gets in good positions,” he said.

“You’ve got to play to that and if you’re playing to his feet, it’s not his game, he does go down the side every now and again, but I do think they miss the full-backs (James and Chilwell) who are the main people now who cross the ball.

“If they can get them back fit and get some good deliveries into the box, I’m sure he will be a handful and I think he’s a confidence player, he lacks confidence at times.”

Chilwell is a long-term injury absence that’s being missed at left wing-back.

In contrast, there is at least some positive news regarding a return to action for right wing-back James. He could reportedly be available in time for this weekend’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.

Chelsea system

With a James return imminent, it’s going to be intriguing to see what Blues manager Thomas Tuchel does about his formation.

The German boss has been flexible with his systems by adapting between a back three and a back four, but that’s when his two best wing-backs have been unavailable.

Perhaps the return of James could see Chelsea return to their more favoured 3-4-2-1 system. However, that would risk stunting the brilliant form of winger Hakim Ziyech.

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