SM
Sunday, December 15
Upcoming predictions and previews

Roberto Martinez: 'Romelu Lukaku to be given time to prove fitness'

:Headline: Roberto Martinez: 'Romelu Lukaku to be given time to prove fitness': ID:327061: from db_amp
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez insists that he will give the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Thomas Vermaelen as long as possible to prove their fitness for the World Cup.

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez has insisted that Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku will be given the time to prove his fitness before he selects his final squad for this summer's World Cup.

Lukaku was left out of United's starting lineup in the FA Cup final having struggled with injury towards the closing stages of the campaign, although he was named on the bench at Wembley and is expected to be fully fit by the time Belgium travel out to Russia.

Barcelona's Thomas Vermaelen was also carrying an injury at the end of the domestic campaign, but Martinez will give all of his players until the squad deadline on June 4 to prove their fitness ahead of naming his final 23-man group.

"We have to use the rules to our advantage. We are going to be preparing for Portugal, the European champions, and then on June 4 we will announce the final list of 23 players," the former Everton boss told reporters.

"This week we will work with every player individually to give them the best possible chance to be involved in the 23-man squad. Then as a group we will start the preparation we need to do with the group going to Russia.

"The idea was always to try to reduce the group to 23 from day one, but now that has changed because of the needs of certain players to give them an extra period of time to prove their fitness.

"At the moment we are open-minded with the 28 players, we will work in the same manner with everyone and then make the decision just after the Portugal game. I think that is the best way to do it from out point of view in the circumstances we have."

Belgium begin their World Cup campaign against Panama on June 18 before taking on Tunisia and England in their next two games.

amp_article__327061 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2018-06-05 05:39:17:
html db last update - 2018-06-05 05:39:17 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Roberto Martinez

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City158342721627
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Bournemouth157352320324
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Brentford157263128323
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1512121131-205
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .