Monstrous Lukaku a valuable lesson in staying patient

Luk who’s back. It was a happy homecoming for Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku at the Emirates on Sunday and he could just be the ingredient Thomas Tuchel was missing.

It may have been a long wait but sometimes patience is a virtue and Lukaku hit the ground running, suggesting he could have a big say on the final destination of this season’s silverware.

Seven years have passed since Lukaku first waved goodbye to Chelsea but the Belgian excelled on his return to the club, netting the opener in a 2-0 win at Arsenal and highlighting the transformation he has made since exiting Stamford Bridge.

The 28-year-old rattled home 64 goals in 95 appearances as he helped Inter secure a first Serie A title in 11 years last season, yet it was his prior troubled time with Manchester United that made some people question his lofty £97.5m price tag.

Lukaku spent two seasons at Old Trafford, and despite managing 42 goals in 96 starts he was a regular target for criticism when results were going badly.

The Belgian was frequently called out for unprofessionalism and often labelled overweight, yet tender handling from Antonio Conte at Inter, where he felt loved again, allowed him to rediscover his voice.

A self-assured Lukaku hailed his own performance at the Emirates as "dominant" and a striker oozing such confidence usually means only one thing.

Chelsea now have a fired-up striker at his most complete and it could be a match made in heaven as Lukaku looks the prime candidate to answer last season's goalscoring woes.

No Chelsea player managed more than 12 goals in all competitions last term, and Italian penalty-taking midfielder Jorginho was their top marksman in the Premier League with just seven strikes.

But Lukaku is surely going to make a mockery of that tally. He has returned from Italy bigger, stronger and faster and has evidently developed his all-round understanding of the game.

His arrival may also be a blessing in disguise for German duo Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, who can be excused for needing time to adapt to life in the Premier League.

Which makes you think – does the demand for immediate success see young talent moved aside too prematurely?

A player who comes with a big reputation for a big fee automatically becomes the centre of attention, and when he doesn't hit the ground running questions are asked.

But, as they say, class is permanent and form is temporary and some players require more time to settle in to a new environment.

Players develop at different rates. Just look at the way in which Pep Guardiola has handled England international John Stones.

For well over a year, a £47.5m price tag appeared to weigh heavy on the shoulders of the Barnsley-born defender, but Guardiola took his time and is now reaping the rewards as Stones forms an astute defensive partnership with Ruben Dias.

Kevin de Bruyne and Mohamed Salah also left Chelsea as young players before announcing themselves as two of the greatest players on the planet, and the summer exits of Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham and Valentino Livramento are three of the Blues’ latest castoffs who could still turn out to be quite good.

Tomori completed a permanent move to Milan after racking up 17 league appearances in the second half of last season and is a centre-back with huge potential, while Abraham is another who has headed to Italy in the pursuit of first-team football.

Abraham netted 30 goals in 82 matches for Chelsea, and grabbed two assists and hit the woodwork in Sunday’s first Serie A start for Roma against Fiorentina.

Both Tomori and Abraham are only 23 and nowhere near their ceiling, while 18-year-old full-back Livramento has started both Premier League matches since securing a switch to Southampton and comes with a glowing reputation.

Young players need to be competing on a regular basis in order to develop, which is why Chelsea are renowned for their extensive loan policy, but far too often a gem slips under the radar.

Just ask Newcastle. Brentford’s Ivan Toney and Southampton new boy Adam Armstrong, who scored a combined 61 goals in the Championship last season, were both on the Magpies’ books until being shipped out in 2018.

Both strikers realised their true potential once dropping down the divisions, and they shouldn't look out of place now back in the Premier League.

Hard work pays off and few have worked harder in recent seasons than Lukaku, who is rightly considered one of the best strikers in world football. He will be eager to make up for lost time at a club he supported as a boy.

This Premier League season has the potential to be one of the most enthralling watches in many a year with four genuine title-contenders, and Lukaku's homecoming adds an extra string to Chelsea’s bow.

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