Romelu Lukaku came off the bench on Sunday with Premier League midfielder Jorginho scoring two penalties to give Chelsea a 3-1 win at Aston Villa.
Lukaku has not started a league game since getting injured in October and has missed the last two games after testing positive for COVID-19.
But the Belgian changed his team’s performance after coming at halftime at Villa Park, providing constant threat, putting his side ahead and then earning a late penalty that earned Thomas Tuchel’s side three points.
Third-placed Chelsea, who drew with Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their last two matches, are now second on 41 points behind Liverpool – six behind leaders Manchester City.
Villa took the lead in the 28th minute with some good luck when Matt Targett’s cross hit Chelsea defender Reece James on the head and went past goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.
The visitors’ draw leveled six minutes later, however, when Matty Cash clumsily brought Callum Hudson-Odoi inside the box and Jorginho calmly converted the penalty.
Halftime substitute Lukaku made a quick impact, angling a fine in front of Tyrone Mings, flashing a header from a Hudson-Odoi cross to put Chelsea ahead in the 56th minute.
Mason Mount should have added a third but wide shot after Villa keeper Emiliano Martínez failed to break out of his field and clear.
Hudson-Odoi should have done even better when he was found in space on the back post but his shot was comfortably tackled by Martinez.
In stoppage time, Lukaku powered his way through his half before being brought down inside the box by Villa defender Ezri Konsa. Jorginho again made no mistake in getting three points.
“I needed this kind of performance,” Lukaku said, adding, “it’s going to be difficult (but) towards the end of the games. I kept working hard. I’m happy with my performance and I have to keep going.”
The former Manchester United and Inter Milan striker said Chelsea remain in the race to catch up to leaders City.
“We are hunters now. The previous results were not good and now we have to chase. We have to take every match like a final. Today we won and now we have to move on.”
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