Inter marksman Romelu Lukaku will miss out on the opening two 2022 FIFA World Cup matches for Belgium due to a hamstring injury. As per News18, the 29-year-old did not feature in the national team’s first training session upon arriving in Qatar.
Lukaku traveled with the rest of the Belgium squad to the Islamic Republic despite carrying a hamstring injury. Since returning to Inter on a season-long loan from Chelsea in the summer, the robust striker has spent an awful lot of time on the sidelines.
He mustered just four Serie A appearances this season, with his last league start for Inter dating back to late August. Lukaku came close to regaining full fitness in late October. He even scored as a late second-half substitute in a 4-0 demolition of Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League.
However, it made things worse as he’s not taken part in any Inter game since. That’s not what Belgium would want to hear as their trophyless ‘Golden Generation’ takes one last shot at a major international title.
Belgium’s campaign in Qatar kicks off on November 24 against North American high-flyers Canada. They will then take on Group F minnows Morocco before closing things out against beaten 2018 finalists Croatia.
If nothing, they will likely call upon Lukaku’s services for the most challenging game in the group. However, scoring has been a genuine problem for Roberto Martinez’s side ahead of the tournament.
Out-of-sorts Eden Hazard and Fenerbahce’s Michy Batshuayi proved unworthy caretakers. Indeed, the Belgians have scored one goal or fewer in four out of five games preceding the Qatar showpiece. That includes an abysmal 2-1 defeat at the hands of Egypt a few days ago.