Lukaku finally hits stride for Inter as they prepare to face Porto in Champions League

Romelu Lukaku's Inter Milan return has so far failed to live up to expectations but the Belgium striker is beginning to turn things round as his club prepare to take on Porto in the Champions League.

The striker has suffered a string of injuries and came under fire for his part in his country's disastrous World Cup campaign.

He has been a marginal figure in what was billed as a glorious homecoming season for the 2021 Serie A winner.

The 29-year-old has only played one full game for Inter once since he moved back on loan from Chelsea last summer. His seven starts and three goals in all competitions are far from encouraging.

On Saturday, Lukaku scored his first Serie A goal since the opening day of the season, netting a penalty at the second attempt that set Inter on the road to a 3-1 win over Udinese.

However, it wasn't the most convincing way to get back on the scoresheet as his first attempt from the spot was struck poorly and he finally scored the retake after an Udinese player was caught encroaching in the penalty area.

And as it stands, Lukaku is behind veteran Edin Dzeko in the queue to play alongside Lautaro Martinez, the other half of the once great "Lu-La" partnership, who has come back from Argentina's World Cup triumph in great form and has even worn the captain's armband.

Martinez has scored eight times in all competitions since returning from Qatar and will be coach Simone Inzaghi's major weapon on Wednesday night.

His buoyant post-World Cup mood goes in stark contrast to Lukaku's state of mind in the Gulf, a smashed dugout and a trail of missed chances against Croatia - which ended the Red Devils' chances at the group stage - the only memories of an awful tournament.

Luka Modric of Croatia vies for the ball