Inter striker Romelu Lukaku could feel that his “real season” is beginning with this evening’s Serie A clash with Sampdoria as he pushes to convince the club to extend his loan past the end of the campaign.

This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, who report that the Belgian wants this to be the fresh start that finally removes the doubts that Nerazzurri President Steven Zhang and the club directors have based on his injuries.

Given that Lukaku has suffered from persistent injury and fitness troubles throughout the season so far, there has been real doubt about whether Inter would want to negotiate a new loan deal with Chelsea past the end of the season when his current deal expires.

However, the 29-year-old has now been fit for a couple matches, having shown flashes of his quality in a start against Atalanta in the Coppa Italia and then in a substitute appearance in the Milan derby.

Lukaku and the rest of his teammates have had a week to prepare for this evening’s Serie A clash away to Sampdoria.

Now, the Belgian will be looking at this match as the prospective start of a run of matches which finally sees him cement himself as a key figure in the Nerazzurri’s starting eleven.

With this, the Gazzetta reports, Lukaku aims to make sure that his future is in an Inter shirt.