Thomas Tuchel urged to play Lukaku ahead of Werner.

Lukaku has not started a game in the Premier League since he returned from injury and played just three minutes in Chelsea's 3-2 win over Leeds.

Thomas Tuchel told to play Lukaku [GETTY]

Ex-Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor has criticised Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel for his decision not to include Romelu Lukaku in his starting line-up.

Lukaku made a return to Chelsea from Inter Milan for a record signing in the summer and hasn’t started a league game since his return from injury.

The Belgian big man missed five games due to injury but returned in the Blues’ Premier League draw with Manchester United on November 28 and still hasn’t started a league game since his return from the sidelines.

However, Agbonlahor, reckons Tuchel needs to reshuffle his team and play Lukaku ahead of Timo Werner.

“I think Thomas Tuchel needs a kick up the backside as well because I’m looking at Lukaku, a £90million striker, on the bench again today,” Agbonlahor told talkSPORT.

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“He’s played 78 minutes in four Premier League games. Lukaku wasn’t out for five months, he was out for five games.

“I’ve been there, if you’ve been out for five games after one game where you come on for 20 minutes, you’re ready to start.

“It doesn’t take another four games and you’re playing someone like Werner in front of him who is not a Chelsea player, nowhere near, because he’s been miles off it since he’s come to Chelsea. Not been good enough. The odd game he’ll score a good goal but nowhere near good enough.”

Agbonlahor believes Lukaku himself could get frustrated about the current situation at Stamford Bridge.

He added: “If I’m Lukaku I’m thinking, ‘I left Inter as a £90m striker to come to Chelsea and I’m only getting brought on today because they need a goal in the 87th minute’.

“He probably wouldn’t have brought him on if they were winning.

“Lukaku will be fuming. He started off the season as the main man and there was talk of Lukaku needing a rest because he was playing every minute in the Champions League and the Premier League and all of a sudden he can’t get on the pitch and you’re playing Werner and Havertz, who are not performing.”

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In regards to how the West London club have started shipping in goals, Agbonlahor said of the circumstance: “I’m a bit worried for Chelsea and the way they are playing at the moment.

“At the start of the season, until three or four games ago, everyone was like, ‘wow, Chelsea don’t concede goals – they don’t concede chances’. Now they are conceding a lot of goals.

“It’s not like Chelsea, what’s changed?"

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