And striker challenges team-mates to continue high standards on travels
ROMELU Lukaku has tipped Youssouf Mulumbu to start getting in the goals to help eighth-placed Albion round off the season in style.The DR Congo international took the man of the match honours in Saturday’s 2-1 win over in-form Swansea.
And Lukaku believes Mulumbu has it in his locker to reproduce the scoring form that saw him notch seven times during the 2010/11 campaign, after only netting twice so far over the last two seasons.
“I think Youssouf was the best player on the pitch on Saturday and he seemed to start every attack,” said the on-loan Chelsea striker.
“His role has changed slightly and he seems to push up the team more.
“All he is missing is some goals and I keep telling him that in training.
“He is working very hard on his finishing and his offensive play.
“It’s hard when you’ve been playing as a holding midfielder and now you have moved up the pitch into a more attacking position.
“It’s very difficult in the beginning but he will get there and by the end of the season he will score a few goals to help us climb the league.”
Lukaku has also praised the versatility of the Baggies midfielders, who have assisted him in plundering 13 top-flight goals already this term.
“The team is very dynamic now and that’s great for us,” he added.
“We have several midfield players who can play on the wing, in the middle, or in holding roles.
“We are able to play a number of different ways and I think that makes it very difficult to play against us.
“We can play on the counter attack as well with Shane [Long], Peter [Odemwingie] and Markus [Rosenberg], who all have a lot of pace.”
The victory over the Swans was the Baggies' ninth league win at The Hawthorns this season – only top-two Manchester United and Manchester City have recorded more.
And, while Lukaku is proud of those figures, he insists it is time to find more consistency on the road – starting at Stoke on Saturday (ko 3pm).
“I think we play some of the best football in the league, so when you come here you know you’re going to have a difficult game,” he said.
“We’re also tough opponents away from home but sometimes we make mistakes when we are away and you are punished for that.
“I think now in the last few games of the season we have to reduce those negative moments away from home and try to play to our high standards.
“It’s good that we are winning - and now we have a difficult game at Stoke.
“That will be a physical battle and we will need to feel confident.
“We have momentum after a few good results and we should feel confident going there.
“If we win we will be in a good position to challenge for European football.”