Everton legend has advice for Lukaku

Former Everton striker Bob Latchford has spoken out about what he feels current star forward Romelu Lukaku should do to answer his critics.

Latchford played for the Toffees from 1974-81, scoring 138 times in 289 appearances across all competitions and was Everton’s top scorer for six straight seasons in between.

“Romelu, at 23, can only keep improving. But already he’s a better player than he was a year or so ago and it’s imperative Everton keep hold of him.

"Someone who scores at the rate he does will attract widespread interest from top clubs but it’s so important Everton don’t sell him.

“Romelu’s goals can take them back into Europe, first as a top six club and then to target the top four.

“That may sound ambitious but that’s the way it is in football today to attract the top players.

“At the rate Romelu’s scoring, set to break Duncan Ferguson’s Premier League record for the club, he’s going to be up there with the very best."

The Belgian is currently at 59 tallies, just one behind the all-time leading scorer for Everton in the Premier League, and current team coach, Duncan Ferguson.

Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

“I know he’s been criticised. People say he doesn’t do enough, that he doesn’t hold the ball up and that his all-round linking play needs to improve.

“But I got that same sort of criticism. I got better as I got older – and I’m sure Romelu will do the same.

“And my reaction to the critics was just to go out and score again.

“That’s what Romelu needs to do – just keep putting the ball in the net.”

Sound advice from the legend, and it looks like exactly what Lukaku has been doing so far as he finds himself in the thick of the Golden Boot race.