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Romelu Lukaku

MANCHESTER. – With Zlatan Ibrahimovic fit again and closely scrutinising his performances from the substitutes’ bench, Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku is under pressure to rediscover his goal-scoring touch. Having scored 11 goals in his first 10 games following his £75 million switch from Everton, Lukaku has found the net only once in 12 matches since.

Manager Jose Mourinho continues to profess satisfaction with Lukaku’s all-round displays, but the longer the Belgian striker’s difficulties continue, the bigger a point of concern it will become.

“For a striker, it is all about your goals and unfortunately people will always measure him by that, but away from the goals his contribution has to be big,” says former United captain Gary Neville. “He’s had his struggles. That was always going to happen at some point after his blistering start, but this is a critical stage of the season where he has to deliver.”

Question marks are hovering above Lukaku as United approach a potentially pivotal week in their season.

They host CSKA Moscow in the Champions League tonight and face English Premier League pace-setters Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday in a derby they must win if they are to make up ground in the title race.

Lukaku’s recent displays suggest if United are to get the results they need, their goals are unlikely to come from him. His frustrations appeared to tell during United’s 1-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion when he kicked out at Gaetan Bong in an incident caught on camera but for which he avoided retrospective punishment.

He squandered three presentable chances during United’s 4-2 win at Watford last week, notably dallying for too long when presented with a clear sight of goal by Paul Pogba, enabling the home defence to block.

But he also played an important role at Vicarage Road, setting up a goal for Anthony Martial, and produced a similarly valuable contribution in Saturday’s 3-1 success at Arsenal. – AFP.