Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has endured mixed fortunes since joining the Red Devils in the summer of 2017. The big striker joined the Red Devils for a fee of around £75million from Everton. Lukaku had established a reputation as a striker with big potential on Merseyside. He looked to be one a rare breed: a prolific goalscorer during his time at Everton.
Has mixed fortunes at Manchester United
Lukaku has endured mixed fortunes at Manchester United. His record of 22 goals in 50 league appearances for the Red Devils is not terrible. However, it is not one of a striker who supposedly wants to be one of the best in the world either.
Lukaku no doubt has talent, but he also seems to have a big ego. Maybe that ego tells him he does not have to work hard now he is at United. In his younger days, the striker was famous for being a student of the game.
He received a lot of praise for his love of learning about the game and improving from watching other outstanding players. Has that changed in the last 18 months? Lukaku seems to have stopped developing, and suddenly the usually highly confident striker looks like he is lacking confidence.
New boss challenges Lukaku
Temporary United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has challenged both Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez to step up their game. Both have been in disappointing form this season and found themselves out of the team at times this season.
Solskjaer has challenged the pair to take it upon themselves to improve their displays in a United shirt. Like Sanchez, Lukaku is a big personality and has maybe believed his own hype in recent years.
If players start believing their own hype and live off their past displays tend to disappear from the top level of football very quickly. It is far too early to say that Lukaku will not stay at the top of the game for long. However, the striker is not currently developing the way that many expected him to, including himself probably. He must work harder and do better if he is going to take himself to the next level.
For their investment, the Red Devils need Lukaku to push on and return to the sort of form he showed at Everton during his time there. If he does not, then a club like Manchester United usually have the resources to replace him with a more effective performer.
Lukaku may return to the United squad this weekend
Manchester United host Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon, a game the Red Devils are odds of 4/11 to win. Lukaku could return to the United squad after missing the last few matches through compassionate leave.
The Red Devils have won both of their games under Solskjaer and produced two very good displays under the Molde boss. It seems unlikely that the temporary United boss will be in a hurry to change his starting line-up for the game against the Cherries.
It will not be easy for Lukaku to regain a spot in the United starting line-up, which Solskjaer has already stated. It is now time for Lukaku to prove his worth and show that his development has not stalled.
Can Romelu Lukaku get back on track at Manchester United?
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