MX23RW : Thursday, November 8 12:22:39

Rio Ferdinand: 'Romelu Lukaku has to improve'

Rio Ferdinand: 'Lukaku has to improve'
© Reuters
Former Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand says that Romelu Lukaku must improve if he wants to continue as the club's number one centre-forward.

Former Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand has insisted that Romelu Lukaku must improve if he wants to continue as the club's number one centre-forward.

Lukaku was dropped from United's starting XI for their 2-1 victory over Everton last weekend, before injury forced him out of Saturday's clash with Bournemouth, which Jose Mourinho's side won 2-1.

Marcus Rashford and Alexis Sanchez have both started through the middle in Lukaku's absence, and the Red Devils have looked more fluid in the final third of the field.

Lukaku is without a goal in his last nine games at club level, and Ferdinand has questioned whether the Belgium international will ever be able to become the player that United need him to be.

"You look at Lukaku. Lukaku's goalscoring record is up there, it's fantastic, he scores goals. But in the best teams you need more than that," Ferdinand told BT Sport.

"You need to be able to bring other people into play, you need to be able to complement people in your team, things have to be set up off you.

"At the moment, in a Man Utd shirt, some things break down in Lukaku. And that affects other players in the team, like [Paul] Pogba and [Jesse] Lingard, who want to play off people."

Lukaku has scored four times in 14 appearances for United this season.


Check out our page for Marcus Rashford

Check out our page for Manchester United

Share this article now:
Romelu Lukaku in action for Manchester United on August 19, 2018
Read Next:
How Man Utd could line up against Bournemouth
>

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City119203342929
2Chelsea118302781927
3Liverpool118302151627
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs118031910924
5Arsenal1172225141123
6Bournemouth116232014620
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd116231918120
8Watford116141613319
9Everton115331915418
10Leicester CityLeicester115151716116
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves114341112-115
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton114251216-414
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham113261317-411
14Crystal Palace11227816-88
15Burnley112271225-138
16Southampton11146720-137
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle11137714-76
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield11137521-166
19Cardiff CityCardiff11128924-155
20Fulham111281129-185

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account