Mauricio Pochettino hints at Chelsea striker solution amid Nicolas Jackson worries

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has insisted he will consider introducing Romelu Lukaku back into the squad when he returns from his loan spell at AS Roma.

Lukaku has spent the last two seasons on loan in Serie A after falling out with previous manager Thomas Tuchel. The Belgian striker returned to Stamford Bridge for £97.5m but just five months later he expressed in an interview his desire to one day return to Inter.

That came sooner than expected as he spent last season back at the San Siro. After scoring 14 goals in all competitions, Lukaku returned to Chelsea only to be shipped out on loan again, this time to Rome.

The 30-year-old has rediscovered his goalscoring instincts this season and has 18 goals to his name in all competitions. At the end of the season, Lukaku is due back at Chelsea where he has another two years remaining on his contract.

While it may seem to some that his time could be coming to an end due to back-to-back loan spells, Pochettino has told reporters that he would consider bringing Lukaku back into the fold next season. He explained: "He’s a Chelsea player, so for sure we will pay attention. It’s an option. But still, we did not take any decision."

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Pochettino's comments come as current first-choice striker Nicolas Jackson continues to struggle in front of goal. Despite matching his tally for last season of 13 goals in all competitions, the former Villarreal forward has been criticised for his lack of killer instinct when it matters most.

The Blues looked particularly blunt on Tuesday night as they were hammered 5-0 by Arsenal. To add insult to injury, former forward Kai Havertz scored twice for the Gunners.