Everton boss Roberto Martinez thankful that Romelu Lukaku’s on his side

The Belgium striker, a £28million club-record signing last July, misfired during the first half of the campaign.

Martinez put that down to a World Cup hangover, with the 21-year-old having helped his team reach the quarter-finals in Brazil last summer. But Lukaku has struck 11 times since the turn of the year, scoring in each of Everton’s last three matches. 

Everton are far from safe in the Premier League as they prepare for today’s trip to QPR, but Martinez said: “It’s always tough for players after a World Cup, and Rom found it difficult. But he’s put everything together and he’s been phenomenal. Now he must finish the season strongly.”

QPR’s Nedum Onuoha is dreaming of a double. He is hoping that history will repeat itself and see his first love – and old club – Manchester City win the Premier League title and his present one, QPR, beat relegation.

That last happened three years ago in a dramatic last day match that Onuoha – like most of the rest of the country – remembers like it was yesterday.

Onuaho recalls: “We lost 3-2, City won the title and we also stayed up in the last game of the season. That was the perfect scenario for me.

“And if it happens again this time I’ll be quite happy.”