Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Moore: Just bad Luk pal took wrong turn off M6
ROMELU LUKAKU can push former club West Brom closer to the drop today – and Baggies’ pal Darren Moore admits the striker has proved to be irreplaceable.
Lukaku showed his Premier League potential in a successful spell at The Hawthorns in 2012/2013 on loan from Chelsea as a youngster.
He helped fire then-boss Steve Clarke’s Albion to eighth with 17 top-flight goals — including a final day hat-trick against Manchester United.
The Baggies tried in vain to sign him again, but Lukaku opted for Everton on loan before signing permanently in
July 2014 for £28million.
Then, 87 goals in 154 appearances later, Lukaku was bought by
Manchester United last summer in a huge £75m deal. Now the Belgium star will be looking to add to his tally of 26 goals in all competitions when bottom club West Brom visit today.
Moore, who has been on the coaching staff at The Hawthorns since 2012, said: “We had a wonderful relationship. I just remember this energetic, young, big striker coming in. Such a humble man but somebody with a willingness to work, get better and improve – and he did just that.
“He was good then and we wanted to sign him on a permanent basis but he went on to Everton.
“We were very close to getting him – he should have come off at Junction 7 but he carried on up the M6!
“But his career has blossomed and continued to blossom.
“He’s a well-respected man at this club and we thank him for the time he was here because he scored some wonderful goals. We had a fantastic season. The Albion supporters will give him a really good round of applause.”
Albion have consistently struggled to score without the 24-year-old goal machine, failing to total more than 43 goals a season since he left. Now they look doomed to relegation into the Championship with just five games remaining after winning only three times all season and scoring 26 times.
Moore added: “He’s irreplaceable, absolutely. He’s a quality player and it’s good to see him have this stage and arena he’s got now on a weekly basis.
“We’re seeing the talents he showed at West Brom on the very highest level.
“He’s got a World Cup to look forward to, so we wish him well.”
It seems really hard for people to praise us – whatever we do