Romelu Lukaku can become one of the all-time Premier League great strikers

Romelu Lukaku has thirteen league goals in the Premier League already this season, but can the forward become one of the elite EPL players?

After a whirlwind start to the season Romelu Lukaku has already cemented himself as one of the best players in the 2015-16 Barclays Premier League campaign.

The Belgian international has found the net 13 times for Everton already in league games alone and is currently on a seven-game scoring streak which could see him challenge the recent 11-game record set by Jamie Vardy.

The 22-year-old’s go-ahead goal for Everton against Leicester City this weekend would register as his fifty-fifth in the English top flight – a record which puts him sixty-ninth in the overall standings.

While that position might not sound all that impressive, it’s startling to consider that aged just 22 Lukaku could very well still enjoy a further nine, ten or even eleven seasons at the top of his game.

Those years will offer the former Chelsea and West Brom man ample opportunity to add further to his already illustrious tally, as he slowly claws his way towards the upper echelons of the charts.

But can the prolific forward maintain this sort of form?

While it’s certainly not always the case that goal-scoring form remains consistent across seasons (just look at Eden Hazard and Diego Costa this semester for proof of that), in Lukaku’s case the numbers don’t lie.

So far in four seasons playing in the Premier League the forward has yet to fail to score double figures in a single campaign – with his worst effort coming during Everton’s disastrous outing last year, when he registered just the ten.

Even in what was an atrocious year for the Toffees, Lukaku would stand out as the best source for finishing chances – with the Belgian arguably making the difference between their eventual mid-table finish and potential relegation.

This time around the striker is already three goals clear of that tally – and needs just the four more to match his best ever effort in England, coming during his loan spell at West Bromwich Albion.

With Lukaku managing to clinch double figures even when both he and the rest of his cohorts at Goodison Park were faltering, it only stands to reason that the 22-year-old can continue to flourish on a goal-scoring front as his career progresses.

The real stumbling block for legendary status in the Premier League comes in the form of his nationality.

While Belgian players have made the EPL something of a second home in recent seasons, the fact that Lukaku is not himself an Englishman makes a potential move away from England – to say La Liga or Serie A – far more likely than if he was a native.

With Everton a club who have become somewhat infamous for failing to hold onto their best players in recent seasons, it’s hard to envisage Lukaku remaining there for more than a year or two if this world class form persists.

So then, where does that leave his push for all-time EPL greatness? The answer to that depends heavily on the needs of the Premier League big boys.

In the modern era of ludicrous transfer prices and big-name flops, Lukaku stands out to the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United as a golden transfer target – a striker with the proven ability to score league goals at an English side.

If any of those four clubs need a striker in the impending future, Lukaku may well be the answer to their prayers.

This January alone both Manchester United and former club Chelsea have made it clear that they are in need of a new goal-getter, with the Belgian no doubt high on both clubs’ wish lists.

So, can Lukaku finish his career as one of the highest ever Premier League goal-scorers? Yes; but for that to happen he will need to link up with one of the big boys in the coming seasons.

As for the here and now, the Everton man will look to extend his already incredible goal-scoring form this year when his side takes on Newcastle on Boxing Day.

Fantasy Premier League Review: 4 Things We Learnt From Gameweek 17

The big hitters continued to rake in the big points as managers saw yet another high scoring game week in one of the most tumultuous seasons ever witnessed in the Fantasy Premier League world.

Chelsea, Arsenal and Watford were the only 3 teams to record home wins this week as Premier League’s so called minnows continued to defy the odds by securing upset wins over their much fancied opponents.

Arsenal reasserted their title credentials by beating Manchester City at the Emirates, Leicester City bandwagon continued to roll on, Watford gave Klopp’s Liverpool an almighty thumping at Vicarage road, unfancied Norwich City secured a shock win over Louis Van Gaal’s stumbling Manchester United and Chelsea got back to winning ways against Sunderland to kick off the post-Mourinho era.

Here are the 4 major talking points as Gameweek 17 came to its conclusion on Monday.

1. Manchester United are FPL Junk at the moment

The return of Chris Smalling at the heart of Manchester United’s defence against Norwich failed to stem their free fall down the Premier League table. The Red Devils put in an abject display in front of the Old Trafford faithful and were deservedly beaten 2-1 by an excellent Norwich City side.

The irrelevance of Manchester United’s attacking players for our FPL teams in the near future can be very well gauged from the fact that they have mustered a mere 7 shots on target in their last 4 matches. At the back, United are currently missing Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia and Matteo Darmian through injury. The usually resilient Manchester United backline has failed to keep a clean sheet in 4 of their last 5 Premier League encounters.

Fantasy managers would be well advised to steer clear off Manchester United’s Fantasy assets for the time being.

2. Everton-Leicester lived up to its Fantasy billing

Fantasy managers expected massive fantasy returns as high flying Leicester City travelled to Goodison Park to take on a free scoring Everton side. And they weren’t disappointed as both teams played out a highly entertaining 5 goal thriller that eventually went in Leicester’s favour.

Riyad Mahrez continued his astonishing goal scoring record as he dispatched two penalties on the way to yet another double figure return (15). His partner in crime, Jamie Vardy, reaffirmed his status as FPL Gold as he chipped away with 2 assists to notch up attacking returns in 15 consecutive matches.

On the other side of the divide, Everton striker Romelu Lukaku scored for the 7th match in succession to take his season’s goal tally to 13 and render him a must have in your fantasy squads. Midfielder Ross Barkley served up 2 assists and 1 bonus to maintain his position as the 3rd highest points scoring midfielder in FPL at the moment.

3. Watford continue to defy Fantasy odds      

Quique Sánchez Flores’s Watford side upset the fantasy odds as they demolished Liverpool 3-0 at Vicarage Road on Sunday. Odion Ighalo continued his remarkable goal scoring streak by netting a brace against Jurgen Klopp’s side and condemning them to their 2nd successive defeat in the league. Ighalo has now scored 12 goals and provided 5 assists in his maiden season in the English top flight.

Elsewhere, Ighalo’s strike partner Troy Deeney chipped away with an assist to record attacking returns in 5 of his last 7 matches in the league. Owners of Watford’s defensive assets were rewarded as well as they hung on as the Hornets hung on to record their 3rd consecutive clean sheet. Left back Nathan Ake (£4.4m) scored Watford’s opening goal on the night and went on to reward his owners with a massive 14 point haul.

Although Watford have a tough upcoming Christmas schedule (Che (A), Tot (H), Man City (H)), Fantasy managers will find it extremely hard to drop their Hornets assets given their incredible run of form.

4. Mesut Özil is pure FPL Gold

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Özil took his season’s assist tally to 15 as he set up both the goals to propel the Gunners to a 2-1 home win over title challengers Manchester City. Özil has ratcheted attacking returns in 14 of the 17 matches in the league this season – rendering him a priceless fantasy asset.

The German playmaker is also a bonus magnet having accumulated 20 bonus points over the course of the season given his excellent all round stats. Mesut Özil outstanding form will be pivotal to Arsenal’s title ambitions come the end of May next year. The same can be said of his fantasy appeal as well.

Chancel Mbemba aiming to halt Romelu Lukaku's red hot Premier League goalscoring streak

The challenge of stopping Romelu Lukaku make history excites Newcastle United defender Chancel Mbemba.

Chancel Mbemba has already been compared to Belgium’s ace centre-back Vincent Kompany, but he is more interested in stopping his international team-mate Romelu Lukaku in his next game.

The Everton star became the first Toffees player to score in eight consecutive games for the club since 1954.

And he is now eyeing Jamie Vardy’s record of netting in 11 games in a row in the Premier League.

Mbemba, though, has warned he is aiming to bring a halt to Lukaku’s goals-coring heroics.

He told the Chronicle: “Top players are hard to stop and will score goals like him.

“But I am going to do my job.

“I defend for this team.

“Whichever XI is put on the pitch I go out and do my job, I give 100% because I am proud to play for this club.

“I go out and do everything I can to do my job to the full.”

Newcastle defender Mbemba felt it was two points dropped against Aston Villa at the weekend.

But he feels the Magpies can help make up for it against the Toffees in the Boxing Day clash on Tyneside.

He said: “We need to make sure we get a win against Everton.

“Before the Villa game we were 14th, but have slipped down the table.

“That’s not good. Every single player and member of staff must work hard and get to the place where we deserve to be.”

Steve McClaren wary of threat posed by Everton's Romelu Lukaku

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren will renew acquaintances with Everton hitman Romelu Lukaku on Boxing Day having been aware of the threat he poses long before his arrival in England.

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren will renew acquaintances with Everton hitman Romelu Lukaku on Boxing Day having been aware of the threat he poses long before his arrival in England.

The 22-year-old striker has 16 goals to his name so far this season and has scored in each of his last seven Barclays Premier League appearances after starting to fulfil the promise Chelsea first saw in him and for which the Toffees paid a club record £28million in July last year.

However, his rich vein of form has come as no surprise to McClaren, who first came across the then teenager during his spell as manager of Dutch club FC Twente.

The 54-year-old said: "He's a top striker. I remember watching him when he was at Anderlecht and we played them when I was at Twente. A winter friendly, it was. He was about 16, 17 and he was a player then.

"I've seen him just go on and on, and he's done well since leaving Chelsea. He has a long way to go, but he's certainly a handful and scoring goals and playing in a good team."

Lukaku had helped Everton put together an unbeaten run of eight games before their progress was rudely interrupted by surprise leaders Leicester, who won 3-2 at Goodison Park last Saturday.

They currently sit 10th in the table, a point behind city rivals Liverpool, but McClaren knows their ambitions will be significantly loftier.

He said: "They are a good team with good players, good individual players. There's a great balance to their team. They were beaten last time by Leicester, the first time in nine, I think, so they're in good form, difficult to beat, having a good cup run.

"[Manager Roberto] Martinez has done a terrific job over there the two or three years he's been there and and they're a strong, strong team. Everton are quite capable of not only getting into the top 10 but definitely challenging for the Europa League."

Newcastle boss Steve McClaren recognised Romelu Lukaku threat early on

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren is not surprised by the progress made by Everton striker Romelu Lukaku having seen him at first hand as a youngster.

The former Chelsea striker has already scored 16 goals this season and will look to add to his tally at St James' Park on Boxing Day.

McClaren saw the 22-year-old play for Anderlecht in a friendly when he was managing in the Netherlands and recognised his talent at that early stage in his development.

"He's a top striker. I remember watching him when he was at Anderlecht and we played them when I was at Twente in a winter friendly," said McClaren.

"He was about 16, 17 and he was a player then. I've seen him just go on and on, and he's done well since leaving Chelsea.

"He has a long way to go, but he's certainly a handful and scoring goals and playing in a good team."

Lukaku played a key role in helping Everton put together an unbeaten run of eight games before they were beaten 3-2 at home by leaders Leicester last Saturday.

Newcastle boss Steve McClaren believes Everton can challenge for Europe this season

Despite that setback, McClaren knows they will face a team who will be pushing for a European place come the end of the season.

"They are a good team with good players, good individual players," added McClaren.

"There's a great balance to their team. They were beaten last time by Leicester, the first time in nine, so they're in good form, difficult to beat and having a good cup run.

"[Manager Roberto] Martinez has done a terrific job over there the two or three years he's been there and they're a strong, strong team.

"Everton are quite capable of not only getting into the top 10 but definitely challenging for the Europa League."