Being Dropped Was A Wake Up Call For Lukaku

Lukaku: I Needed Wake Up Call.


Romelu Lukaku says being dropped by Everton boss Roberto Martinez earlier in the season was a "wake-up call".

After an injury-affected start to the campaign, the Belgium international was left on the bench for the Blues' trip to Newcastle United on 28 December and then again at Hull City on New Year's Day.

He bounced back by hitting a stoppage-time leveller against West Ham United when he was restored for the FA Cup third round clash on 6 January and has since registered a further 10 times to take his goal tally for the season to 18.

The Club record signing, 21, believes it was being forced out of the action that inspired him to rediscover his best form.

"I didn't have the easiest start to the season because I was playing with injuries, which I shouldn't have done," said Lukaku. "But I love to play so much that I took the risk and the gamble to play and it took me too long to get to my level.

"The support [from Martinez] was always there