Roberto Martinez vows to carry on improving Everton ace ahead of Capital One Cup tie

Lukaku is now leading the line of an Everton team starting to attack with authority

ROBERTO MARTINEZ believes Romelu Lukaku is developing into the complete striker as he looks for him to propel Everton a step closer to a Wembley cup final.

 

Everton face Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup quarter-final tomorrow with Lukaku seeking to maintain the rampaging form this term that has seen him plunder 12 goals in 19 appearances.

“Romelu has been very consistent throughout this season and not just this season, but in the calendar year,” said the Everton manager. “To score 25 goals is an impressive figure and he is developing a strong relationship with the players around him.

“You see how influential he is in everything we do going forward and he has a clear understanding of being a focal point at times and being a clinical finisher at others.

 

“His diversity and what he brings to the team has been very reliable. That is something we need to carry on improving because he is only 22 and he is a very important part of what we are trying to do going forward.

“You have to look at what he has done since he arrived at the club. He arrived with incredible potential and he has shown a constant level of performance this season, which is down to maturity and understanding how you can affect the game and not just relying on taking the chances that come your way.

“I think he is becoming a more wise footballer about what is around him and he is a No 9 who is special in many aspects. You don’t get that in too many footballers.

 

Lukaku, at 22, recently went past 50 Premier League goals

“Someone who can hold the play, with that power like he has, the way he can run with the ball with pace and technical quality and then the quality he has in his finishing.

“It is a combination of very special trademarks of a very good No 9.”

Martinez confirmed that Joel Robles will play in goal as per the previous rounds in the competition, but James McCarthy and Gareth Barry both face fitness tests.

 

“Gareth was finding it hard to walk yesterday,” said Martinez.

Everton – who blow a 2-0 goal lead against Bournemouth on Saturday and were also conceded in the 98th minute after regaining the lead - must also decide whether to hand Leighton Baines his comeback after injury.

“His match experience will be important,” said Martinez. “That doesn’t mean he will start.”