Inter star Romelu Lukaku will not take part in tonight’s World Cup group stage clash between Belgium and Canada.
The 29-year-old Belgian striker returned to Serie A this summer, returning to the Nerazzurri on loan only a year after making his €113m move to Chelsea. Lukaku immediately settled into old habits in Italy and provided two goal contributions on his first two games back, but things soon went wrong and he was sidelined with injury.
After Inter’s loss to Lazio in late August, Lukaku was sidelined with a hamstring injury. He missed 12 consecutive games across Serie A and the Champions League before making a brief return in late October against Viktoria Plzen and Sampdoria. After that, the 29-year-old was again forced out due to the hamstring issue.
Despite his struggles with injuries this season, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez still called up Lukaku for the World Cup in Qatar. He is expected to miss the first two group games against Canada and Morocco but is hoping to be fit enough to face Croatia on December 1.