Romelu Lukaku: Target man is not my best role

Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku has revealed he is keen to get his name back on the score sheet after failing to find the net in his last nine appearances for Everton.

The striker, who is on loan at The Toffees from Chelsea, enjoyed a blistering start to life at Goodison Park with eight goals in nine games before his current barren spell began.

The towering Belgian believes a slight change in his role is behind his recent lack of goals and revealed he does not want to be utilised as a traditional “target man” by boss Roberto Martinez.

“It looks like I’m becoming more and more of a target-man. That’s not my best role. I want to make runs and look for the space in behind defenders.

“Hopefully, that will change. I’ll have to make sure I play better in the next games, and create more chances for myself,” he told Sky Sports.

Far more than a powerful body to simply leave up top and sling long balls towards, Lukaku possesses excellent feet and is more than capable of bringing his team mates into the play with crisp, incisive interchanges, highlighted by his assist for fellow Belgian Kevin Mirallas‘ goal in the 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion.

“I was happy that Kevin scored – it was an extra assist for me. That’s my fifth one, so I’m doing well. But in the first place, I’m a striker. I want to score goals,” he insisted.

Lukaku now sits top of the assist leader board at the club in addition to being top goalscorer, but Everton will be hoping their star striker does not receive the same fate as biblical character Samson, whose powers drained after his hair was cut, with the 20 year-old currently sporting a new haircut, having cut off his instantly recognisable dreadlocks.

“Most people say I look younger due to my new haircut. I’m 20, so I’m a young man. I don’t have a reason to change, but it was about time. My hair needs to grow a little bit and I’ll have to return to the hairdresser a few times. Then you’ll see the definite result!” he declared.

Romelu Lukaku has scored 9 goals this season while Chelsea’s entire strike-force has managed just 11.