Lukaku can carry purple patch into 2016, says Martinez

Striker Romelu Lukaku’s sublime form in front of goal has been among Everton’s biggest positives in 2015, Everton manager Roberto Martinez said. Belgian Lukaku, with 15 goals to his name, is the joint highest goalscorer in the Premier League this season following his brace in the 4-3 loss to Stoke on Monday.
“He (Lukaku) had a really tough start to the 2014-15 season after the World Cup. He was catching up with his fitness until January, but we knew that he was a footballer who could reach those heights,” Martinez told the club’s website (www.evertonfc.com). “The reason is that he is someone who can run with the ball and has incredible finishing with both feet. He is powerful, has got real strength and his back-to-goal play has improved immensely. He gave consistent levels of performance and it is what we expect in 2016 as a team. That will be the target.”
Lukaku amassed a third of his 54 goals for The Toffees this season, ending 2015 with 31 goals - the highest in a calendar year since Bob Latchford netted 57 in 1977, according to the club’s website. “You look at the amount of chances he gets in every game and it shows a really good understanding of the team mates around him who are providing him with that service to always be a threat,” Martinez added.
Everton, who are 11th in the table, begin the New Year against fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday at Goodison Park.

West Ham’s Payet in line to face Liverpool
West Ham United playmaker Dimitri Payet could start against Liverpool tomorrow after nearly two months out with an ankle injury, manager Slaven Bilic revealed yesterday. The France midfielder, 28, was expected to be sidelined until February after damaging ankle ligaments in the 1-1 draw with Everton on November 7, but he has recovered ahead of schedule. “Is he in contention to start? Yes,” Bilic told a press conference.
“He is back, he’s been training with us for a couple of days and depending on how he does today, I’m expecting him to be in the squad and available for the game. We will see how much he is
going to participate in the game, but he is back and it’s a great boost for us.”
Payet made an impressive start to life in England after signing from Marseille, scoring five goals and supplying three assists in his first 12 Premier League matches before injury derailed him. His form helped West Ham rise to the Champions League places, but they went eight games without victory prior to Monday’s 2-1 win over Southampton.