Romelu Lukaku Injury: Everton Star to Miss Norwich Match with Toe Injury

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku will miss Tuesday's third-round EFL Cup match against Norwich City as he deals with a toe injury. 

Manager Ronald Koeman told reporters Monday that Lukaku will need two days of rest and will be fit for Saturday's match against Bournemouth.

Any injury to Lukaku represents a significant blow to Everton's chances of advancing past Norwich, as the former Chelsea forward is the only proven striker available to manager Koeman.

The Toffees moved to bring in Enner Valencia from West Ham United late in the summer transfer window, but he’s proved to be more effective from wide positions or playing off a target man. Aside from the Ecuadorian, Everton have Arouna Kone and Gerard Deulofeu to call upon as makeshift options, while Oumar Niasse doesn’t have a squad number.

After speculation linking Lukaku with a transfer ahead of the 2016-17 season, Koeman confirmed the striker was to remain at Goodison Park for the campaign, per BBC Sport. While that was a big boost to the Everton supporters, there’s a huge burden on the forward to score goals for the Toffees.

Not only will his goalscoring instincts be missed, Lukaku adds a presence and dynamism to the point of the attack that no other player in the squad can provide. Koeman will have to be at his creative best to formulate a system that will see Everton compensate for their missing goal-getter.