Lukaku: Barkley is Englands next big thing
Romelu Lukaku is enjoying life at Everton and he is certainly enjoying playing in front of Ross Barkley. Infact the big Belgian has known about Ross for a number of years and recognised his potential years ago after coming up against his team mate at a youth tournament.
“He’s very good,” said Lukaku. “I played against Ross something like seven years ago at a youth tournament and we could already see he had the potential to play in the Premier League.
“Year in year out he’s kept improving and it’s a great pleasure to have him behind me.
“He can deliver such quality balls, he can score, he can dribble.
“I think he’s England’s next big thing.”
Lukaku is relishing life on Merseyside and the weekend’s Merseyside Derby match certainly gave him a big lift, especially scoring 2 goals against his international team mate Simon Mignolet.
“I think at club level, in the league, it’s the best experience I’ve ever had to play in such a derby,” he said.
“Two great sets of fans, two great clubs with really great history – and to score at such a young age is a really great thing.
“I think you can see every time I put the shirt on I try to give my best for the club. When I had the opportunity to come here they were the club who showed the most interest in me and from the first time I played here at Goodison it was a great experience.
“Week in week out I try to give my best for the team and for my team-mates and I am doing very well right now and I want to continue like that.”
“He kept me out in two one-v-ones (Mignolet), so he did his job, but I think I did my job as well.
“I told him afterwards we were equal. He had two saves, I had two goals, but he’s a great competitor and I love to play against those type of players.”
Lukaku will be hoping to carry his form into the next match against Stoke City and after scoring 7 times in his first 8 games for Everton the beast will be highly confident of adding to his tally.
Meanwhile Everton Left-back Leighton Baines has been ruled out until the new year with a toe injury. The injury will be a massive loss to Everton as they chase the coat tails of the top four and look to face Arsenal and Manchester United without their talisman.
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