Romelu Lukaku is 'near enough the complete striker', hails Graeme Souness after his brace in Chelsea's 3-0 win against Aston Villa... as Darren Bent says £98m summer signing was the 'missing piece' for the Blues as they bid for the Premier League title 

  • Lukaku was ultra-clinical in the comfortable victory against Villa on Saturday 
  • The Belgian forward's double helped his side go second in the Premier League 
  • And pundits Souness and Darren Bent praised Lukaku's all-around performance 

Graeme Souness has hailed Romelu Lukaku as 'near enough the complete striker' after a virtuoso performance for Chelsea against Aston Villa on Saturday.

The Belgian striker scored a fine double in the Blues' 3-0 win against Dean Smith's side, taking his chances clinically. 

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And Souness lavished praise on Lukaku after the match, stating that his all-around game makes him the 'main man' for Thomas Tuchel's title-challenging side.

Graeme Souness hailed Romelu Lukaku (pictured above) as 'near enough the complete striker'
Souness' praise comes after Lukaku's clinical double against Aston Villa on Saturday evening

He said: 'If they keep Lukaku fit, he's the main man. He is goals. When you have someone who get you goals out of nothing...  I see Chelsea as very dangerous as long as they can keep their main players fit. By main players, I mean Lukaku.

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'He's a proper team player. He's grown up since he played in Italy. He's learnt that what the team does is the only thing that matters. He's near enough the complete striker. He's not brilliant at anything, but he's very good at everything. 

'He's all grown up. He'll have a lot of pride - there's unfinished business for him at Stamford Bridge. He maybe feels he has to prove a point to some doubters at Chelsea. He's the difference between being a near miss... (and a title).'

At half-time, after his first goal, Souness had said: 'Lukaku takes some stopping. He's great at everything. He's a proper handful for anyone.'

Lukaku's first goal was a masterclass in movement, peeling off marker Axel Tuanzebe to run onto Mateo Kovacic's through ball before cutting back inside him and sweeping past Jed Steer.

Fellow pundit Darren Bent said the £98m signing of Lukaku was the 'missing piece' for Chelsea
The Belgian striker signed for Thomas Tuchel's Blues side from Inter Milan earlier this summer

In stoppage time he sealed the win with a superb second, thrashing home from outside the box with his left foot into the top corner to bookend Kovacic's second-half chip.

Fellow pundit Darren Bent added: '(Chance conversion) was the missing piece. Their one weakness was centre forward, they've addressed that. Lukaku, one on his right foot, one on his left foot, and his movement created those chances too. 

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'He's one of the best in world football. He looks a lot more assured in himself. He looks confident, in a happy place and he's taken the experience of his second season at United. He understands how good he is.' 

Lukaku himself said after the game: 'Since I was 11 I've waited for this. Efficiency was important in Italy, I had to take the one or two chances I would get in a game. I'm very happy with the situation I'm in, everything is working.

'Villa made life very difficult for us. Up front we were just clinical with the chances we had. It's great to be back here, it's a childhood dream for me but we need to keep going.'