Lukaku tells fans to give Clarke time

ROMELU LUKAKU has emphatically backed Steve Clarke to deliver for Scotland in the long run. The Inter Milan powerhouse claimed his 49th goal for Belgium as the world’s No1 ranked nation eased to a 4-0 win at Hampden on Monday. The loss sent Scotland tumbling to second bottom of Group I with just two wins from six games — with Clarke conceding that automatic qualification has now gone. But Lukaku, part of the West Brom side that Clarke led to eighth place in the Premier League in 2012-13, implored the demoralised Tartan Army to keep faith in his former boss. ‘He will get it right for Scotland,’ said the ex-Manchester United, Everton and Chelsea striker. ‘When we were at West Brom together, a lot of people didn’t think we would get to the position we did — but we

did it. If you give Steve time, he will get it right. He is the right man to give young players a chance and to test them.’ Asked which players could be mainstays of Clarke’s team moving forward, Lukaku offered: ‘Scott McTominay can be very important for Scotland but he is not the only one. I think you have a lot of good talents coming through. ‘You have Ryan Fraser, who I like a lot, and also Oliver Burke — he was at West Brom and is a good player. ‘He has a lot of pace. You just have to develop them and work hard. If you do that, then things will improve.’ Belgium’s stunning rise up the rankings has seen them go from failing to qualify for five major tournaments between 2004 and 2012 to becoming favourites to win Euro 2020 thanks to the emergence of stars like Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne. Asked to explain such a turnaround in fortunes, the 26-year-old said: ‘Belgium is a small nation but it all starts in the academy. You have to give players a chance and also give them time to develop. ‘When the players are ready to make the step to the big teams in Europe, they have to make the right choices. ‘In Belgium, the clubs are helping them make those decisions, they are sending players to teams where they can play a lot. I think you see the benefit of that.’