What a difference a Lukaku-full Chelsea makes.

Thomas Tuchel has proved he can win the Champions League without a prolific striker, yet repeating the trick in the Premier League looks an altogether much tougher task.

But, possessing one as classy and as pure in goalscoring in the form of Romelu Lukaku, then that task becomes more easier.

Much of Chelsea’s issues up-front from last season reared its ugly head once again in the first-half against Aston Villa. When Villa took the lead, Chelsea were staring down the barrel of an unfortunate failed title charge.

Despite scoring from the penalty spot before half-time, Chelsea struggled to trouble Villa’s back-line. Looking lifeless in attack, lacking in any real cutting edge and ruthlessness. Christian Pulisic – with no fault of his own – has started Chelsea’s previous two games as the leading frontman and its proved – quite possible by his own admission – absolutely fruitless.

Against Villa, it was the same problems, for much of the first half at least. When Chelsea had possession, much of it was in front of the Villa rearguard rather than in-behind, and its why Villa sat so comfortably when out of possession.

Like much of his Chelsea teammates, Pulisic is a player who needs the ball to feet and defenders to run at but he couldn’t do that centrally. Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa enjoyed a comfortable first-half and there are very few players who could dominate them both physically. Pulisic provided no threat to the defending order; like a schoolkid in a playground easily brushed aside trying his best to play against men.

It was a complete mismatch. Tuchel realised that issue, and took a big risk at half-time deciding to bring on a player who’s been troubled by injuries and Covid-related issues in recent weeks, but 45 minutes later, it proved a risk well worth taking.

Step forward Chelsea’s £97million man.

Much of the discussion around Romelu Lukaku’s return to Stamford Bridge has been about how he’ll fit in such a rigid, organised and defensively controlled system. Though, after 45 swift minutes, those debates were quickly put to bed, and became more of a question as to how the system could tailor to Lukaku’s needs. In actual fact, it doesn’t need to.

Lukaku has proved time and time again – amidst all the negativity and reservations surrounding his playing style – that he is one of the purest goalscorers in the world. He is an out-and-out striker by modern standards, but as his header to put Chelsea in front proved, the Belgian’s qualities rest beyond the traditional expectations of a standard marksman.

His awareness of space, speed of thought, mixed with a deadly instinct in-an around the penalty area are qualities that Chelsea so desperately needed to take that next step in their development under Thomas Tuchel. It’s why the powers that be, decided to break the bank and spend all of about £100million to secure his signature.

If you take a closer look at his goal against Villa, you don’t need any reminders of how potent and so alive Lukaku is in the 18-yard-box. His movement so swift and so deceptive. Mings thought he’d had the ball in his sights to head it clear, but Lukaku had other ideas, quickly stepping in front of the England international before guiding a deft header past the helpless Emiliano Martinez to put Chelsea in front.

To be honest, four months into his return, with 12 starts in Chelsea’s 18 Premier League games things haven’t gone quite to plan. It’s been difficult to discern whether those attributes he’s been celebrated for in Italy had fully translated during his return to the English top-flight. But on Sunday, as Chelsea recorded a much needed win – their first in three to address a recent small blip – it was so evidently clear the old traditional values of centre-forward play that Lukaku holds so dear, values that he revels in will see him thrive as a potent and unique weapon in Tuchel’s armoury.

The speed, power and ruthless edge the Belgian showed to break away in added time, winning the Chelsea’s second penalty on the day converted by Jorginho was exactly what Chelsea have desperately needed for all of about a year.

“Throughout the years, my movement in the box has been better”, he said with such pride and confidence at the end of his 45-minute cameo that earned him man of the match. “I try to be less static and try to be on the move all the time.”

While Manchester City wreak havoc without a pure no.9, Chelsea thought they could do the same, but its clear they aren’t quite on the same technical wavelength. They need a no.9 and Lukaku is the man to lead them forward.

For such a complete and cerebral goalscorer, the simple elements remain a point of pride and reference for Lukaku. He discussed his pleasure at that late burst to win Chelsea’s second penalty: “I think that’s one of my preferred actions, running into space and using my speed and my power.”

Lukaku is unlike any other, especially in such an immensely talented Chelsea squad. There’s the argument that the most organised and controlled teams are the ones who need forward who can act outside such tactical requirements. Strikers like Lukaku need their independence, they need not be controlled and Tuchel realizes that, hence his desperation at putting him in so soon against Aston Villa.

Draws against a fragile Manchester United, followed by a 3-2 defeat to London rivals West Ham, then four points dropped against Everton and Wolves. A profound dip in form that turned a three-point cushion into a nine point deficit by 5.30pm on Boxing Day. The Belgian had been restricted to just 77 minutes split across those four games as his comeback was further impacted by a bout of Covid, which meant missing games against Everton and Wolves. Two games that were crying out for a plan B so good as Lukaku.

With him on the pitch, players like Mount, Ziyech, Hudson-Odoi and Havertz have that reference point in attack. His 45 minutes against Aston Villa underlined his worth and importance to Tuchel.

The move for Lukaku was meant to give Chelsea the firepower to take down City and Liverpool in the title race. With the Belgian fit and firing, more determined, hungry and on-form, he could be the difference maker. More dropped points on Sunday might have seen the Blues left adrift, but Lukaku has pulled them back and turned the momentum around; after a momentary blip, Lukaku may well have now reignited a fire in Chelsea’s flailing title charge.

Whisper it quietly, the exciting three-horse Premier League title between City, Liverpool and Chelsea may still be alive with Lukaku’s return.