Roberto Martinez has praised Romelu Lukaku for his form this season after the Belgian helped Everton to a 2-0 victory over Wolfsburg in the Europa League.
Lukaku scored the first for the visitors in Germany before setting up Kevin Mirallas to secure top spot in Group H, and Martinez was quick to underline the 21-year-old's importance to the team.
"Rom has had, in my eyes, a very good start to the season," the Everton boss told reporters. "Maybe he has not grabbed the headlines from the outside but we know how important he is for us.
"You look at his game and he becomes a focal point in everything we want to do. You don't get many strikers who are so strong and good at running with the ball with that power, pace and clinical finishing.
"Then his hold-up play is exceptional, and at the age of 21 he is a young man with his future in front of him. We value Rom immensely. We have been getting on with our season on the quiet and I think Rom has been exactly the same."
Lukaku has scored six times in 18 appearances in all competitions since becoming Everton's club-record signing in the summer.
Callum Mulvihill
