Albion's Romelu Lukaku targets World Cup spot

The Belgium international capped his full debut with the only goal as Albion defeated Reading at The Hawthorns in the Premier League on Saturday.

And the 19-year-old admitted playing for his country in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil is one of his main motivations with the Belgians tipped as a rising force in international football.

"For the next two years it is very important for me to play," said Lukaku, who joined the Baggies after struggling to secure a first-team place at Chelsea following a big-money move from Anderlecht.

"I'm just 19 and even next year people will still look at me as a 'baby'.

"But there is the World Cup and stuff like that to consider.

"I want to play as much as I can in the next two years so at 21 I can be where I want to be.

"There is a lot of competition in the national team so for me it is really important to play now.

"But I cannot scream that I want to play, I just have to show myself, keep my mouth shut in the dressing room and just work hard.

"Last year I had good preparation at Chelsea, now I can show myself at West Brom.

"My dream is to play for Chelsea but now it's West Brom and West Brom is on my mind."

Lukaku was preferred on Saturday to Shane Long, who had started all previous matches this season and stepped off the bench to lay on his strike partner's goal.

And the on-loan targetman reckons competition will help the Baggies prolong their impressive start to the season.

"With the good signings we have had, the good competition and the quality of players we have, I had no choice when joining because it felt good," said Lukaku.

"Now we have to continue like that and hopefully I can do my best for the team.

"Everyone wants to be in the team, we have a lot of competition in every position and that is good.

"Every game is challenging for everyone and every day in training is also a challenge."