Belgium manager Roberto Martinez confirms Romelu Lukaku is back training with the full squad, but won’t say yet whether the Inter striker can start against Morocco in the World Cup.
The centre-forward already missed out on the 1-0 opening victory over Canada and is hoping to be at least on the bench for Sunday afternoon’s encounter with Morocco.
It would be ahead of schedule, seeing as originally when Lukaku was included in the squad, Martinez had said the plan was to have him ready to feature in the third group game against Croatia on December 1.
“Romelu trained with the group today,” said Martinez in his press conference.
“It was a controlled session and we’ll see how his body reacts. The medical staff don’t want to take any risks with him. For now, I cannot say if he’ll be able to start the next match against Morocco. We’ll find that out over the next two days.
“We’re happy with the progress he is making, but don’t yet know if he’ll be in shape for the second or the third match.”
Lukaku returned to Inter over the summer on loan from Chelsea, but made only five appearances between Serie A and the Champions League, scoring two goals.
He sustained a muscular injury on August 29, managed two substitute appearances on October 26 and 29 before suffering a relapse.
His presence at the World Cup in Qatar was in doubt to the very last minute, brought along only with the assurance he’d be fit for at least the final group game.