MX23RW : Thursday, January 16 02:59:38| >> :120:10341:10341:

Romelu Lukaku: 'Ross Barkley is perfect partner'

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku believes that teammate Ross Barkley will become a key player for both club and country.

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku has backed teammate Ross Barkley to become a star for both club and country.

The England international returned to action against Aston Villa on Saturday after missing the opening seven games of the Premier League season with a knee ligament injury.

Barkley assisted Lukaku's goal in the 3-0 win at Goodison Park, and the Belgian is delighted to be playing alongside the 20-year-old midfielder again.

"He is like a friend and brother to me off the pitch," Lukaku told Everton's official website. "I am very happy that he is back on it because he brings something that the whole team needs.

"He has that rawness, that skill, that power. He is a perfect partner for me to play up front with and I am very happy that he is back.

"There are loads of players who can help me, but he has something that none of us have. I can't explain it. He is the best player in our team. He will be somebody that the England team will rely on."

Everton travel to Lille in the Europa League on Thursday.

ID:183594: cacheID:183594:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2002:
Written by
Steven Toplis
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Everton's Ross Barkley celebrates after scoring the opening goal against QPR during their FA Cup third round match on January 4, 2013
Read Next:
Martinez: Barkley "was born to play football"
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool20145148202847
2Arsenal21127241192243
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest21125430201041
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle21115537221538
5Chelsea21107441261537
6Manchester CityMan City2110563829935
7Aston Villa2110563132-135
8Bournemouth219753225734
9Fulham217953230230
10Brentford218494037328
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham217592741-1426
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs21731143321124
14Crystal Palace215972328-524
15Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
16Everton203891526-1117
17Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2144133148-1716
19Leicester CityLeicester2135132346-2314
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!