Romelu Lukaku can inspire West Brom to an impressive finish

28Feb 2013

England - Premier League

Romelu Lukaku has enjoyed a superb season for West Brom and has been among the goals of late - and the Baggies will undoubtedly miss him on their visit to parent club Chelsea on Saturday. But is the 19-year-old's form just a flash in the pan or is he the real deal? Hannah Duncan looks at whether the Belgian's form can help West Brom to a top six finish this term and what, if anything, he can offer the Blues next season.

Chelsea host West Brom on Saturday and must pick themselves up from their 2-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City - against a side who have seen off their previous two managers.

After defeats against the Baggies, both Andre Villas-Boas and Roberto Di Matteo were shown the door by Roman Abramovich, but current boss Rafael Benitez can rest slightly easier knowing West Brom's in-form hit-man Romelu Lukaku will be missing from proceedings, with the on-loan Belgian not allowed to play against his parent club.

Chelsea are 1.41 favourites to beat West Brom on Saturday while the Baggies are huge 9.2 outsiders for victory, with the draw at 5.2.

When Lukaku arrived at Stamford Bridge at the beginning of last season, reports were of 'the new Drogba' and on his first outing, the teenage man-mountain more than looked the part. But his sporadic appearances in a Chelsea shirt flattered to deceive.

The Belgian was all effort but little product, perhaps trying too hard to be the young star the Stamford Bridge faithful were all expecting he would be, with Drogba on the wane and Torres, well, just being Fernando Torres.

At first, the comparisons with Drogba may have looked lazy on the part of the media and fans. Lukaku was essentially a big bloke who could bully defenders. But following his outstanding performance against Sunderland at the weekend, those comparisons suddenly don't seem quite so lazy.

Steve Clarke's side are currently at 12 for a top six finish this season, currently sitting just two points behind Everton who are sixth, but if Lukaku can continue his goalscoring form, there's no reason why the Baggies can't aim high.

Undoubtedly, from Chelsea's point of view, leaving the youngster at the Hawthorns for the entire season has been the right move. There were calls for him to return in January, but that may have only served to undo all the good work put in by Steve Clarke and co. since August.

At West Brom, Lukaku has been gaining regular football, where he is relied on and not just utilised as a bit-part player, thrown on as a last resort with five minutes to go at 0-0. The responsibility and trust have served to create a player who is starting to look worth every penny of the £18m Chelsea paid to Anderlecht in 2011.

According to Opta Stats, Romelu Lukaku's haul of 12 league goals is the second best by a West Brom player in a Premier League season, after Peter Odemwingie's 15 in 2010-11.

Fernando Torres has netted 15 times in 44 appearances for the Blues this season, compared to the much more prolific Lukaku, who has scored 12 in just 28 outings for the Baggies, including a brace in last weekend's 2-1 win over Sunderland.

And while it may be a long shot, it says something about the contrasting fortunes of the two players that Lukaku can be backed at 110 to pick up this year's Golden Boot, while Torres - once regarded as one of the world's most formidable hit-men - is lagging way behind at 240.

There has been talk of another loan deal next season, but if Chelsea offload Torres in the summer, shipping Lukaku off to another mid-table side where he is unlikely to be gaining any experience on the European stage seems backwards.

At the end of the season, he'll have done his time and deserves to be given the chance. And alongside Demba Ba, there could be the makings of an exciting partnership at Stamford Bridge which, for once, won't have broken the bank. But that's if whoever the Blues boss is next season is willing to fiddle with the formation and axe the seemingly undroppable Torres, either temporarily or for good.