• Premier League

Benitez happy to leave Lukaku to develop at West Brom

ESPN staff
December 4, 2012
Romelu Lukaku is unlikely to appear in a Chelsea shirt this season © Getty Images
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Chelsea's interim manager Rafa Benitez has indicated that the club are unlikely to recall striker Romelu Lukaku from his loan at West Brom in January.

Lukaku, 19, has been in impressive form for West Brom since joining the club on a season-long loan in the summer, scoring five Premier League goals to date.

And with Chelsea's Fernando Torres struggling for form, it has been speculated that Chelsea could invoke a clause in his deal at the Hawthorns that would see the Belgian return for the second half of the season.

Benitez, however, has said in The Sun: "We know Romelu has been doing very well for West Brom.

"But it's maybe best for him to stay there where he is playing games for now, as it will be better for his future development."

Torres, signed by the Blues from Liverpool for £50 million in January 2011, has scored just once for his club in his last 11 appearances.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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