Ruben Loftus-Cheek has explained that Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku is a ridiculously hard player for opponents to get the ball off.
Lukaku, 28, is still working his way back up to full fitness after his recent injury absence.
The left-footed striker has come off the bench in the last three consecutive Premier League matches to help build his fitness up. Also, he started in last night’s 3-3 draw against Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League group stages.
Lukaku scored his fifth goal of the season on Wednesday to end his own goal drought, so will now be hoping to kick on and find his best form around the penalty box.
The Belgium international is still to recapture his goalscoring form from the previous two years with Inter Milan.
Loftus-Cheek has given immense praise to Chelsea teammate Lukaku by explaining how difficult it is for opposition players to come up against.
“He’s a powerhouse. He’s so big. If you’re a defender and he’s protecting the ball, you can’t even see the ball. He’s so quick. If he knocks it past you there is no chance,” Loftus-Cheek said about Lukaku.
Chelsea star still going through the gears
Of course, Lukaku needs time to get back to his very sharpest.
The centre-forward has scored goals wherever he’s been in his career, so it’s just up to Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel to find the best way to use him.
There are so many Blues attackers that would love to strike up connections with him on the pitch and there are small signs of that happening. For instance, Timo Werner assisted his goal last night and the duo are both intelligent with their movements in the final third together.
Kai Havertz’s success as the central Chelsea striker slightly complicates Lukaku’s role, but the latter is clearly still going to get plenty of game time during a hectic fixture schedule in the next few weeks.
Lukaku’s physicality and speed is no surprise given his recent success in English football, plus he’s a real threat in the air.
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