In Focus: Lukaku lacking finesse but can still make his mark at Inter

Romelu Lukaku scored his first Serie A goal at the San Siro in 635 days as Inter Milan triumphed over Udinese on Saturday.

The Belgian forward has been far from his best since he returned to Nerazzurri on loan from Chelsea last summer but has looked noticeably sharper in recent weeks.

His goal in the 3-1 victory may have come from the penalty spot but it could provide the confidence boost needed to propel the powerhouse back into form as Inter look to chase down runaway leaders Napoli.

Ahead of tonight's Champions League clash with Porto, we turn the spotlight on West London's forgotten man.

Comeback trail

Lukaku has dealt with a number of issues since his arrival back in Milan, but injuries have been his biggest hindrance in 2022-23.

In the current campaign, the 29-year-old has missed 92 days and 18 matches in all competitions thanks to a combination of hamstring, arm and knee problems.

And although he has struggled with niggles in the past, the 104-cap international has not been absent for as long as this before in his career — and it has had a profound impact on his form.

Saturday was only his second Serie A goal of the season, with his first coming on the opening weekend back in August.

Inter boss Simone Inzaghi said a few weeks ago that he is expecting a fully fit Lukaku back for their Champions League tie with Porto and it looks as though he may get his wish.

The ex-Premier League star has featured in seven of Inter's last eight league matches and is starting to show signs of a return to his best.

Fighting for his place

Inter's squad is full to the brim of incredible talent and Lukaku's return does not guarantee him a spot in the starting XI.

Inzaghi has preferred to set up in a 3-5-2 for most of the season and, although the seasoned finisher is a big miss when unavailable, there were options waiting in the wings to replace him.

Both Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez have done a stellar job in Lukaku's absence, netting 20 times between them in Serie A, while the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Hakan Calhanoglu have also been popping up with goals.

Lukaku would do well to displace either Dzeko or Martinez permanently in the coming weeks, though his best form would give him a fighting chance.

Across his two previous seasons with the Italian giants, he netted 47 goals in 72 league appearances, showing his undoubted ability to make the difference in Serie A.

Desperate to stay

Lukaku left Stamford Bridge with a sour taste in his mouth, publicly stating his desire to return to Inter last summer.

The San Siro is where he enjoyed the best spell of his career and despite being a proven goalscorer in England, with 121 Premier League strikes to his name, his style of play is arguably more suited to Italian football.

However, his situation remains a complicated one.

As Chelsea paid £97.5million to bring the Anderlecht academy product back to his former club in August 2021, they will unquestionably want to recoup some of that fee — especially after their own big spending in January.

With a contract at Stamford Bridge that runs until 2026, Lukaku needs to continue to prove his worth to Inzaghi to secure a permanent switch to the Nerazzurri.

Fit and firing

Inzaghi praised the former Manchester United forward for his recent displays in Italy's top flight.

After the win over Udinese, the 46-year-old boss said: "Lukaku is improving day by day, game by game, training session by training session. We have great faith in Rom.

"We need everyone and those who started or came off the bench worked really hard. They all deserve to play for the work they put in, but a coach has to make choices.

"He had a few problems last season in London, we brought him back here and then he had this serious injury that troubled him for four months.

"If he is starting games, that means he is in good shape and playing will help him strengthen that form."

Firing Inter to a deep Champions League run will give Lukaku the chance to show he still deserves to be mentioned among Europe's leading marksmen.