Everton vs West Ham: Romelu Lukaku says Ross Barkley needs to add goals if he wants England place

Barkley's strike against the Hammers was his first in open play since November 2015

Barkley and Lukaku celebrate against West Ham (Getty)

It was a goal that had a bit of everything. First there was power and close control as he span away from two West Ham United players inside the centre circle. Then there was vision as he looked up and swept the ball out wide to Romelu Lukaku. And finally hunger and anticipation and precision as he made a perfectly timed run into the box to meet Lukaku’s ensuing cross and steer a half-volley into the bottom of the net.

The goal that Ross Barkley scored to seal Everton’s 2-0 win over West Ham on Sunday was the perfect showcase of what that the 22-year-old can do on his day. The frustration with both club and country is that such days do not come around often enough but according to team-mate Lukaku, it is a timely reminder that Barkley retains the potential to become the best native No10 in the English game.

“At the minute, the players who play in his position, like Dele Alli and Wayne Rooney, have got goals in them,” he said. “I think Ross has to get more goals and more assists than he has been doing. If he does that, then he is going to play for England.

“If he fulfils his potential, you are talking about the best player in English football. He has got everything. He can get power, he has got technique, he can shoot with both feet. He is fast, he can pick a pass. The manager has been working with him so he makes the right decisions on the pitch.”

Barkley’s explosion of joy in front of the Gwladys Street after his goal underlined his need for a boost after a campaign in which he has lost his England place and received some tough love from Ronald Koeman, the Everton manager, who has, variously made public calls for an improvement from the 22-year-old, substituted him at half-time and even left him out of the team.

Barkley’s only previous goals this season had come from free-kicks, against Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day and Yeovil Town in the EFL Cup. Moreover, it was his first goal from open play in the Premier League since the 3-3 draw at Bournemouth on 28 November last year. For a player with Barkley’s natural gifts, that is a troubling statistic.

Lukaku added: “I think the manager has been hard on him because he knows that Ross has the quality, he just needs to be more productive. He has got loads of qualities, especially in the No 10 positions. You expect goals and assists from them. He was productive today and that is what we need from him. When you see the firepower we have up front, we need more from Ross. We need more from myself and we are demanding from each other.”

Barkley was delighted with his first league goal since the opening day of the season (Getty)

If Barkley’s display was a source of encouragement, Lukaku’s offered further evidence of a player firmly in the mood right now. He has seven goals from his last seven fixtures – four of them teed up by Yannick Bolasie, a player with whom he has struck an instant rapport. As a consequence he will be full of confidence when sixth-placed Everton visit Chelsea on Saturday.

During the summer there were rumours of a possible return to Stamford Bridge for Lukaku but no firm bid came. Instead, as Lukaku explained, a conversation with Koeman helped him to refocus on the challenge at Everton and has led, he believes, to his best ever start to a campaign.

Lukaku celebrates opening the scoring at Goodison Park (Getty)

“When he called me during the European Championships, I told him how I felt,” said the striker. “We had a really honest conversation and I was surprised how honest he was with me. He was honest in the way that he wanted to work and how he wanted the team to play. He saw me as an important figure and a big character. I just told him that whatever happens, I am a professional and I am committed to whatever scenario. I told him I am not guy that is going to cause any problems. He was really clear in what he wanted to improve. Also the consistency.

“He has told me off only one time this season,” Lukaku added. “It was just in training and was about the type of movements that he wanted me to make. There is a real clarity about what he wants on the pitch. That helps me. I have never started a season so well. The rest of the team is going well.”