At the start of the season Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku cast a gloomy figure on the touchline at Old Trafford, but the Belgian's fortunes have changed.
Lukaku struggled for form under previous manager Jose Mourinho scoring six goals for United in all competitions but since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival in December Lukaku has already beaten that tally.
United’s frontman has notched nine goals since the Norwegian's arrival, while also recently becoming the first Man United player to score three consecutive braces since Cristiano Ronaldo.
On each of those occasions Lukaku was one goal short of a hat-trick and interestingly he has the potential to join an elite hat-trick club.
In Premier League history only three players have scored more than one hat-trick against the same two opponents and they are Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero and Robbie Fowler.
Paul Pogba explains how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tactical change has benefited him at Manchester United
Lukaku has managed to score three Premier League hat-tricks in his career so far.
His first came, interestingly, against Manchester United during West Brom's thrilling 5-5 draw in 2013. Lukaku bagged his second against Sunderland, in 2016, as Everton cruised to a 3-0 win.
Lukaku's third came in a thrilling 6-3 win for Everton against Bournemouth in early 2017.
If Lukaku was to join this elite hat trick club, he would have to score one more hat-trick against two out of the three teams he's already bagged a hat-trick against.
There is no doubt his form would have to improve again for this to happen, but if it does look out for a Lukaku masterclass against Bournemouth in the future.
Ander Herrera set to stay at Manchester United despite Paris Saint-Germain transfer speculation
But there is also one more obvious obstacle in the way of Lukaku joining this elite hat-trick club.
Sunderland, who Lukaku has previously fired three home against in the past, find themselves currently in League One and he can't currently score against United.
The chances of the Black Cats finding themselves in the Premier League again soon are extremely slim, therefore if Lukaku is to join the striking trio, in the special hat-trick club, he will have to score three against a new club on two occasions.
United legend Rooney provided inspiration to Lukaku recently that it can done and showed age is just a number, scoring a hat-trick against Real Salt Lake for DC United in the MLS recently.
It meant the Englishman has now scored against 100 different opponents during his senior career for club and country, and if Lukaku wants to join the elite hat-trick club in the Premier League, emulating Rooney’s form at United wouldn’t be a bad place to start.
