Mueez Ajao
– Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has said striker Romelu Lukaku must be fit enough to play in the group stage at the World Cup or he will not be selected.
– Martinez will name his squad for Qatar on Thursday and is leaving it as late as possible to make a decision on the Inter Milan forward, who had been sidelined with a hamstring injury and is working his way back to fitness.
– “The decision will be made just before we announce the list,” Martinez said, as quoted by L’Equipe.
Also Read: Too bad! Injury knocks Mane out of World Cup
– “It will relate to the three first-round matches. If he is fit to participate in one of those, he is a player we want in our team. If he cannot, he will not be selected.”
– Lukaku is undergoing daily tests with Belgium team doctors having made two substitute appearances for Inter since August.
– Belgium open their campaign against Canada on Nov. 23, before meeting Morocco four days later and Croatia on Dec. 1.
– “We are seeing signs of improvement, but we will wait until just before the announcement to give us more time,” Martinez added.
– “We have to assess the improvement to help estimate the timeline for his recovery. If he’s fit by Dec. 1, he’ll be with us.”
