Lukaku will walk back with respect

ROMELU LUKAKU has been strongly linked with a return to Chelsea this summer and this is a perfect opportunity for him to show them how good he has become.

If he is to go back to Stamford Bridge, he will walk back in with a little more respect if he can score a couple of goals in this match and rough up their defenders.

He will also put himself in a better place for transfer negotiations as he will have given Chelsea even more reason to try to sign him.

The downside is that the pressure of wanting to do well can have an effect on your performance.

I imagine it is a little bit like when you go back to the ground of a former club. You want to show them what you are missing, of course, but the risk is that it has too much of an effect on performance. You can lose focus on what is important.

As they edge towards the title, Chelsea need calm heads and I have been very impressed by Cesc Fabregas’ contribution in recent matches. He sees all possible passing options but — and this is far more important — he knows when to take them.

If Chelsea are winning a difficult game 1-0 with a few minutes left, and Fabregas (above) sees the chance to play a risky through-ball, he would probably take the safer option. That is exactly the sort of class and experience that is needed in tricky situations. It is hard to imagine him being happy with a bit-part role next season, though, and there are sure to be plenty of takers for him.