Tuchel up front on what Lukaku needs to rediscover spark

THOMAS TUCHEL says Chelsea have not given up on £97.5million striker Romelu Lukaku but warned he must get himself in the right frame of mind to save his career at Stamford Bridge.

Lukaku has not started a league game since February and his last goal came at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup a month ago.

Since then he has failed to make his mark as a substitute, missing two clear chances in the Champions League exit to Real Madrid, then hitting the post from point-blank range in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final win over Crystal Palace.

There is even speculation Chelsea might be prepared to cut their losses and sell him this summer, but Tuchel brushed that aside. The Chelsea head coach, whose side tonight attempt to strengthen their hold on third place against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, said:

“We will not give up. Romelu can come back stronger. It is disappointing for him and not what we expected, but it is not finished.We will push him and as long as the player stays involved in the mentality needed to bring a team forward, he can still be a crucial player.”

Lukaku, 28, whose campaign was first disrupted by an ankle injury in October, is again set to be on the bench tonight, but Tuchel said: “Romelu is trying everything. It’s in him. It’s in us. I don’t think he needs inspiration.What he needs is that one moment, that spark.”

Chelsea will be without midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who could be out for two weeks with an ankle injury.

THE Blues will meet Arsenal in a pre-season tour game on

July 23 at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando as part of the Florida Cup. CHELSEA (probable):

Mendy; Christensen, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kante, Jorginho, Alonso; Mount, Havertz, Werner. ARSENAL (probable): Ramsdale; Soares, White, Gabriel, Tavares; Xhaka, Lokonga; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Nketiah.