Romelu Lukaku has hit out at his parent club Chelsea just a short time after agreeing to join West Brom on a season-long loan deal.

The Belgium international had a frustrating time at Chelsea last season as he failed to make an impact in the first team and was unable to dislodge the likes of Didier Drogba, Fernando Torres and Daniel Sturridge.

Having arrived for £18million just one season ago, there were high hopes for the powerful forward who looked as though he was the perfect successor to Drogba.

Romelu Lukaku
Lukaku slams Chelsea after disappointing first season with the club [Reuters]

However, Lukaku started just one league game and made seven substitute appearances as he was unable to force his way into the plans of either Andre Villas-Boas or Roberto di Matteo.

"I couldn't see myself staying at Chelsea. I sacrificed a year of my career with them and didn't want to put up with it anymore," Lukaku is quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.

"I decided in March I wanted to go out on loan, and told my agent to find me a club. I am relieved to have found a solution.

"On the first day of pre-season I told the manager I wanted to leave.Roberto Di Matteo told me I ought to think about Chelsea as there weren't going to be many other strikers this season, but this is the time for me to think about myself.

"I got sick of watching the others from the bench. I just played 12 games and when I was playing well, they would take me off.

"I lost my hunger for the game over the past year. I won't beat about the bush - my season at Chelsea went very badly. As regards getting minutes on the pitch, I wasted my time.

"Last season I was in the reserves alongside a young lad who'd barely turned 15 and I asked myself what I was doing there."

The 19-year-old may well have had more chances had he remained at Stamford Bridge, having seen Didier Drogba leave the club in the summer. Instead he choose to join West Brom and he is now hopeful that he can have an impact at the Hawthornes.

"It's good for my development to leave London. I can bounce back at a mid-table club," added Lukaku, who scored in Belgium's 4-2 win over Holland last night.

"Steve Clarke constantly phoned me when I was on Chelsea's US tour. I am very happy to join West Brom."

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