'Impactful' Lukaku won't be rushed back into starting XI: Garcia

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a] played to a ‌1-1 draw in Group G on Monday after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ashour-emam/fuSVhCZ5/"]Emam Ashour[/a] ‌had given the North African side a first-half lead.[/p][p]Belgium were struggling to ‌force an equaliser until the burly [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lukaku-romelu/dCkG0Iw0/"]Lukaku[/a] entered the fray and ‌made an immediate impact, holding off two defenders as the ball ricocheted off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hany-mohamed/nyIZP4tk/"]Hany[/a] and into the net.[/p][p]"[b]We saw the impact of Lukaku when he came ‌on,[/b]" Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said.[/p][embed guid="544ece12-4079-424e-a210-48f3f8cc8861" url="https://x.com/TeleFootball/status/2066620811855712696" social-type="twitter" /][p]The striker ⁠spent much of the last year ‌out of the team as he played only 69 minutes for Italian ​side [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/napoli/69Dxbc61/"]Napoli[/a] last season.[/p][p]But following his return for Belgium’s two friendlies in June, Lukaku has shown his worth.[/p][p]He scored his ​90th international goal in the 2-0 win over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a], and grabbed an assist off the bench in the 5-0 rout of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tunisia/QqZVYk95/"]Tunisia[/a].[/p][p]The ⁠goal against Egypt will ​not go down in the record books as his, but may as well have, such was his influence in it.[/p][p]Lukaku is not fit enough to start games after such a lengthy spell on ‌the sidelines, but Belgium will be hoping he can soon change from impact substitute to a place in the starting lineup.[/p][p]"[b]I’m happy he’s recovered, because Belgium doesn’t have another player like him[/b]," Garcia told reporters recently.[/p][p]"[b]We’ll have to manage him carefully. I know everyone wants to see him start, but we’ll take it step-by-step[/b]."[/p][embed guid="f4f7560a-1741-4c81-bece-b950366d66a2" url="https://x.com/TheAthleticFC/status/2066631228330058073" social-type="twitter" /][p]Lukaku does not have the pace of old, or the mobility, but rather the power and street smarts to bully defenders.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-ketelaere-charles/2eOa3r1T/"]Charles De Ketelaere[/a], who started ‌against Egypt, does not offer the same attributes, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lukebakio-dodi/08a9jhm9/"]Dodi Lukebakio[/a] ​does not have much international experience. The other striker in ‌the squad, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fernandez-pardo-mathias/0vPhfqq8/"]Matias Fernandez-Pardo[/a], is perhaps one for the future.[/p][p]If Belgium can get Lukaku more minutes, their chances of a first World Cup trophy increase significantly.[/p][p]They are next in action against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iran/xrRx85iA/"]Iran[/a] on Sunday before a final group game versus [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/rLctHkpU/"]New Zealand[/a] ⁠on June 26. Both will ⁠be focusing on ways to ‌nullify the threat of Lukaku.[/p]