Romelu Lukaku has been named in Belgium’s World Cup squad, with national team manager Rudi Garcia saying the Napoli forward is “out of shape”. Lukaku has struggled for form at Napoli this season, making only just seven substitute appearances totalling 69 minutes.
The 33-year-old has been in Belgium for the past two months recovering from a hamstring injury. His most recent international appearance for Belgium was against Wales last June. However, Lukaku remains Belgium’s all-time leading scorer with 89 goals from 124 caps.
“Romelu has recovered, but he’s out of shape, and I’m not sure he’ll be able to start the matches. But he’s our best striker, Belgium’s all-time leading scorer,” said Garcia.
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“We have five weeks to get him back to full fitness so that little by little he can help the team.”
Lukaku, who played for Chelsea and Manchester United before moving to Italy, will play in his fourth successive World Cup, along with Thibaut Courtois, Kevin de Bruyne and Axel Witsel. Belgium will play Egypt, Iran and New Zealand in Group G in the United States and Canada.
Belgium World Cup squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Mike Penders (Racing Strasbourg)
Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting), Maxim de Cuyper (Brighton), Koni de Winter (AC Milan), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Thomas Meunier (Lille), Nathan Ngoy (Lille), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Midfielders: Kevin de Bruyne (Napoli), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Girona)
Forwards: Charles de Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Lille), Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), Dodi Lukebakio (Benfica), Diego Moreira (Strasbourg), Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)
