Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku has been accused of possessing the worst touch former Manchester United star Lee Sharpe has ever seen from a striker.
The Belgium international frontman has seen his form scrutinised over recent weeks, with a goalless run having been stretched to eight games.
Lukaku’s contribution to the collective cause has been questioned on a regular basis, with it suggested that he offers little else when failing to find the target.
Sharpe has echoed that sentiment, with the ex-United winger left less than impressed by what the 25-year-old is delivering at present.
He concedes that a man who helped Belgium to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup has been short of rest time this year, but feels he should still be offering more to inconsistent United.
Sharpe told talkSPORT: “I’ve never seen a centre forward with such a bad touch.
“If your centre forward can’t hold the ball up, it makes it a very hard game.
“He’s saying he’s played a lot of football at the World Cup and since and that he’s feeling it.
“I think the best thing would be to give him a rest. Send him off on holiday for a couple of weeks.”
United are unlikely to sanction a break for their £75 million forward as they need him to rediscover his spark on the field and help to reignite their 2018-19 campaign.
Jose Mourinho’s side are currently sat 10th in the Premier League table, are out of the Carabao Cup and have dropped five points across their last two Champions League outings against Valencia and Juventus.
Improvement is clearly required across the board, but the man in charge at Old Trafford has refused to place any of the blame for the club’s current struggles onto the shoulders of his No. 9.
Mourinho told reporters when quizzed about Lukaku’s form on the back of a 1-0 European defeat to Juventus: “No criticism at all. But I have to agree his moment is not sweet.
“A complete understanding that the player is a fantastic professional that wants to give everything.
“Not just with the goals he is not scoring but also in his confidence, in his movement, his touch. He is not linking the game well with the team.
“But he is our striker and he is a good striker we believe in. Could I play [Marcus] Rashford there? But then I don’t have a winger as in this moment we have a difficult situation.
“Romelu is a hard-working guy and a good professional. One day the goals will arrive and the confidence will be back.”
United return to action on Sunday when they play host to Everton and have meetings with Bournemouth, Juventus and arch-rivals Manchester City to come before the next international break.
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