Roberto Martinez sets deadline for Romelu Lukaku to prove World Cup fitness

Romelu Lukaku is at risk of lacking the World Cup due to a thigh damage, with Belgium coach Roberto Martinez warning that he’s ready to not choose the Inter striker.

Lukaku, who has scored 57 objectives in his final 60 worldwide appearances, has already seen his 2022/23 membership season hampered by hamstring bother.

That damage, adopted by a recent thigh muscle challenge, has resulted within the 29-year-old that includes solely 4 occasions in all competitions for Inter.

Lukaku, on mortgage with the Nerazzurri after a failed return to Chelsea, made his comeback towards Sampdoria on the finish of October however then needed to miss video games towards Bayern Munich, Juventus and Bologna this month due to his newest setback.

The former Everton and Manchester United participant was on track for his third World Cup after beforehand being chosen in 2014 and 2018, however now his involvement is up within the air.

Martinez has confirmed that he’ll solely choose Lukaku if he’s match sufficient to play in at the least considered one of Belgium’s three recreation group video games. That means he’s in a race towards time, with the Red Devils wrapping up the primary spherical on 1 December after they face Croatia.

If medical employees resolve that Lukaku wouldn’t be match till the knockout rounds, he gained’t go to Qatar.

“For the second he’s not out there and is within the palms of the docs. If he is able to take part in one of many first three matches, Romelu is a participant we’d like,” Martinez instructed L’Equipe.

“If he cannot play within the group stage, he will not be with us. We work day-to-day, however proper now the choice is completely medical: we all know him very properly and see numerous indicators of enchancment.

“However, therapeutic from a muscle damage could be very particular person. We will wait to resolve shortly earlier than having to ship the record of these known as up. If he is ready to return to the sector by 1 December, he will likely be with us. Otherwise, no.”