Man United’s Romelu Lukaku Should Relish Fight To Get Back Into Team

Manchester United have become a different animal under new interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The United legend has brought in an exciting attacking philosophy and that’s seen his side winning all seven games that he’s been in charge of.

The team look healthier, faster, hungrier and happier. The starting line-up has looked fresh and the team’s morale is at it’s highest level this term.

But what does this mean for striker Romelu Lukaku?

The Belgian forward hasn’t started a Premier League game since Ole’s arrival, while youngster Marcus Rashford has flourished in the number nine role.

The England international has scored five goals in his last seven outings. Marcus works hard, has the pace to cause any backline problems and he’s looked very impressive with his one-on-one chances in recent weeks. His overall form suggests that he’s currently undroppable at Old Trafford.

That’s probably not the news that Lukaku will have been hoping for.

But the former Everton and Chelsea man should look at the positives and be determined to win his place back in the team. If he gets his chance, then he needs to take it!

To be fair, in Romelu’s five appearances under Solskjaer (just one start) and the twenty-five year old has scored three times in those 161 minutes, which works out at a goal every fifty-four minutes.

It’s also safe to say that the Belgian internationalist will get more first team chances.

Rashford is still just twenty-one and he’ll need to be rested at some point.

After United’s most recent win over Brighton & Hove Albion, Solskjaer said this to The Sun:

“He (Rashford) was tired towards the end because his work-rate is unbelievable.”

“I have to be fair to the boys, I do demand a lot of sprinting and high press because we are Man United.

“Maybe the last two games it has caught up with a few but we have got another week to be ready for Arsenal, so we will be ready for Arsenal.”

The Norwegian coach will know that he can’t keep Marcus in the team throughout the campaign or he’ll burn out. He still has to be managed properly.

Plus when have Man United looked at their best? When they’ve had competition for the forward places.

Ole will know that only too well as he was part of that majestic treble winning team of 1999, when Sir Alex Ferguson would rotate between Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham and Solskjaer.

The United gaffer recently said as much to BBC Sport:

“I used to be one of four strikers when we played with two. Now we have six forwards and we play with three.”

“There are enough games. It is about taking your chances when you get them.”

“No-one is scoring as many as Romelu in training.”

The current caretaker boss at Old Trafford has the luxury of having three top class strikers in Lukaku, Rashford and Anthony Martial who can play in the centre-coward’s position. The trio also have the attributes to play on the wing, if needed.

I think Lukaku can do well when he’s fielded out wide. He dominated Arsenal, while at Everton, when he was asked to play on the right wing. He can power his way through and he can win aerial battles against smaller full-backs.

Plus let me blow a wee myth that’s grown in recent weeks. Romelu can be fast and he can be direct. It’s just that he was asked to be a target man and help defensively by Jose Mourinho.

ManUtd.com stated that Romelu produced United’s fastest run last season at 34.84 KM/H. The striker also has the second and fourth fastest record run of that campaign in a Red Devils shirt.

The issue is that he was continually asked to drop deep, win headers and link-up play. That game doesn’t necessarily suit Solskjaer style but Lukaku can work under Ole and learn to adapt his game to fit in.

I truly believe that a fully confident and fit Lukaku can play in this Man United team and do what he does best and that’s find the back of the net. He’s the fifth youngest hitman to hit 100 Premier League goals.

Romelu Lukaku suffered from a crisis of confidence in Jose’s last few months in charge at Manchester United but he, likes others, has improved under their new gaffer. It’s now important that the striker relishes the fight he has to get back into the side and to bang in the goals when the chances come.

If Man Utd are to get back into the top four and challenge for the silverware, then they’ll need players up for a fight and a hungry squad that will take their opportunities.

Romelu can play a big part in helping his team, as long as he remains committed to the cause.

 

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