Gareth McAuley discloses what West Brom players and supporters think of Everton’s Romelu Lukaku

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Romelu Lukaku is facing one of his old clubs in the Premier League on Saturday as West Bromwich Albion travel to face Everton.

West Bromwich Albion’s Gareth McAuley

Gareth McAuley has disclosed that Everton striker Romelu Lukaku is still extremely well liked amongst the West Brom players and fans following his successful loan spell at the Hawthorns earlier in his career, the Daily Mirror reports.

The 23-year-old joined the Baggies on a season-long loan spell for the 2012-13 campaign, and went on to make a massive impact with the club, scoring 17 times in 35 Premier League games.

That form must surely have brought him onto Everton’s radar, where he initially moved on loan for a season before signing permanently in 2014. He has since gone on to be a major success at Goodison Park, scoring 61 goals in 130 games for the Toffees.

And ahead of West Brom’s trip to Merseyside today, McAuley has suggested that it was his time at West Brom that took Lukaku to the next level, before outlining how he is still regarded by the Hawthorns faithful.

Romelu Lukaku (L) celebrates scoring for West Brom

“He was quite low on confidence when he came here from Chelsea. That soon changed and he showed what a fantastic player he was here. He came here and really blossomed,” he said, as reported by the Mirror.

“He’s still well-liked and ­respected among the players here and the supporters take to him every time he comes back.”

Despite remaining popular with his old team, Lukaku will be hoping to damage that reputation somewhat by making an impact when Tony Pulis’ men travel to Goodison Park.

Lukaku has scored against the Baggies three times since his switch to Everton, and has been enjoying some incredible form lately, having scored nine times in his last nine games in all competitions.

And with Ronald Koeman’s men battling the Baggies for top spot in the unofficial best of the rest table, Lukaku will know that he will need to step up once again to help the team leave West Brom behind and continue pushing for a top six spot.