Joe Cole urges Romelu Lukaku to FORGET about Inter Milan and focus on becoming a Chelsea legend

Joe Cole has told Romelu Lukaku to forget about Italy and urged the £97.5million to focus on becoming a Chelsea legend amid the Belgian's tumultuous first season at Stamford Bridge.

Lukaku, 28, registered just seven touches of the ball for the Blues in their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, the lowest total of any Premier League player since records began.

As a result, the Belgian's performances have been heavily scrutinised and Tuchel has taken his striker out of the firing line for tonight's Champions League clash with Lille.

Lukaku started brightly at Stamford Bridge since returning from Inter Milan in the summer, but an interview with Italian media in which he admitted he is pining for a move back to the club angered supporters.

Now, former Chelsea star Cole has implored Lukaku to stop 'hankering' for Inter and put all his energy in becoming a Blues legend.

'It was ill-advised, how it come out,' Cole said about the saga on BT Sport. 'I think Tuchel handled it brilliantly, it got put to bed.

'I think with Romelu, it is all between his ears. He’s in the situation he’s in, he can’t hanker about being back in Italy. He has got the chance here to be Chelsea’s No 9, he’s got the chance to walk in the shoes of Didier Drogba, his hero, the great No 9s we have seen at this club .

'He needs to put it all to bed, ignore all the noise and concentrate on his game. We have seen him score all types of goals, he is the complete striker when he is right.'

Lukaku's poor form has onset a debate as to whether he is receiving quality service from his team-mates. Cole insisted that the Belgian can do more to put himself in goal scoring opportunities.

'Is it the service? Is it the runs? It is a little bit of both,' he added. 'It needs to be addressed. With strikers, even if the ball is not good you have got to be there, then you can look at yourself.

'He needs to make sure he is in the right position every single time and if the ball doesn’t come, do it again and do it again and it will eventually get there.'