Lukaku has been struggling with a hamstring damage which, coupled with a thigh drawback earlier this season, means he has performed simply twice since August and is presently sidelined for his membership Inter Milan. But Martinez has beforehand acknowledged that so long as Lukaku might characteristic in one of many group’s Group F video games towards Canada, Morocco or Croatia, he would take him to the event.

Having named 4 gamers on a stand-by checklist – Bryan Heynen, Alexis Saelemaekers, Dodi Lukebakio and Jason Denayer – he has till 24 hours earlier than Belgium’s first recreation towards Canada on Nov. 23 to draft them into the squad if anybody just isn’t match.

“He (Lukaku) is not completely fit medically, that is clear, but the last three days has been very positive. We will give Romelu every second to be fit,” Martinez instructed reporters on Thursday. “At this stage, we really feel he’ll be capable of participate in a minimum of a kind of three (Group F) video games. But we’ll hold assessing and have up till Nov. 22 to decide.

“His situation is similar to (Axel) Witsel’s in the run-up to the previous European Championship. Or Vincent Kompany’s in 2018 (ahead of the World Cup). “It is not an exceptional situation for us. We want him to play as big a role as he can give.” Hazard has been totally on the sidelines at Real Madrid this season and has not performed in LaLiga since September having fallen out of favour with coach Carlo Ancelotti.

However, he’s a talismanic determine for Belgium and Martinez has put aside considerations along with his match health and kind.
“I am looking for Eden to come as captain of the squad and show what an incredible player we have. He is enjoying his football, I can see that, the only concern is the match fitness.”

Martinez has largely gone along with his tried and examined gamers, however made some wildcard picks, together with Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, who he says supplies an x-factor. “It is his profile, it has been refreshing to see his qualities,” the coach mentioned.

“He is completely different from what we have. We have our defensive midfielders, playmakers and attacking midfielders, but he brings physicality and a different profile that is more like Marouane Fellaini in 2018.”

Belgium squad:

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Simon Mignolet, Koen Casteels

Defenders: Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Leander Dendoncker, Zeno Debast, Arthur Theate, Wout Faes

Midfielders: Hans Vanaken, Axel Witsel, Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana, Kevin De Bruyne, Yannick Carrasco, Thorgan Hazard, Timothy Castagne, Thomas Meunier

Forwards: Romelu Lukaku, Michy Batshuayi, Loïs Openda, Charles De Ketelaere, Eden Hazard, Jeremy Doku, Dries Mertens, Leandro Trossard (Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Ken Ferris)