Chelsea Loan Watch: Romelu Lukaku’s Impact At Everton

Romelu Lukaku has certainly made a name for himself in English football following his loan spell at West Brom last season, the Belgian international, 20, now on-loan at Everton from parent club Chelsea is enjoying an early-start to his career at Goodison Park. The forward has scored 4 goals in just 2 starts. This had led to questions being asked as to why Jose Mourinho didn’t assure him enough playing time.

In more recent times Everton have lacked a real centre-forward who can score fifteen or more goals in a season. Nikica Jelavic showed signs of promise in a 6 month spell after signing from Rangers but his form has declined since then. Lukaku on the other hand has come into Everton with a point to prove during his loan spell and he is definitely beginning to do so.

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has employed an aesthetic policy with his side, the team are now playing potent possession football that is good to watch with Lukaku in the side. In the opening 3 games of the season however, Everton weren’t converting chances they were creating and 3 draws on the bounce for the Merseyside club was a telling sign that there was a lack of fire power up-front.

‘A defender’s nightmare’ critics alike have labelled Lukaku, his pace and power was a particular concern to Newcastle’s defenders in Everton’s 3-2 home win. It is not only his physicality that is menacing for defenders, his cohesion with his team-mates is also an admirable quality for a modern day centre-forward; quick, counter-attacking link-up play has been pivotal in Everton attacks so far this season.

In the air and on the ground, Lukaku’s finishing is excellent, a clear-cut chance conversion rate of 36% is very impressive. Not even Robin Van Persie could better that. Lukaku also has great aerial presence, demonstrated by his headed goal against West Ham earlier in the campaign; standing at 6 foot 3 inches, it is no surprise that it is a dominating part of his game.

With the pace of Kevin Mirallas and the crossing ability of Leighton Baines in the Everton side, a proper target man is ideal to play as the lone front-man. Lukaku would stage as the focal point of this attack with his presence even early on in his loan spell being felt by opposition, there is no reason why the Belgian cannot better the 17 league goals scored at West Brom last term.

Lukaku’s first goal for Everton (video),