Man Utd news: Romelu Lukaku tells Sky Sports why he needs time to adjust at Old Trafford

MANCHESTER UNITED striker Romelu Lukaku has told Sky Sports he may need a year to become one of the best strikers in world football.

Lukaku signed for Manchester United from Everton in a £75million deal back in the summer, after months where he seemed destined to lead the line at Chelsea.

The Belgium international made an instant impact – scoring 11 goals in as many games – but has since gone six games without a goal.

The forward will have the perfect chance to end that run when Manchester United go up against Chelsea on Sunday, the club who first introduced the 24-year-old to English football.

And Lukaku has warned fans that, though he is not the finished article yet, it may take him a full year before he really kicks on and becomes one of the best.

“I think a lot of people are judging me as the finished article,” Lukaku told Sky Sports.

“I’m 24 – you can’t judge me as the finished article. I’d rather have a year where I improve, improve, improve rather than going straight to the top and then declining.

“I know I have a lot of talent. I can do a lot of stuff, score goals with my left, right and head. But I want to be a creator – I want to have more assists. I want to make sure when my team is having difficulties they can count on me.

“I’m on the perfect stage and the perfect age. I want to be a winner and take my career to the next level.”

Mourinho recently defended Lukaku, claiming the striker should be regarded as ‘untouchable’.

My job is to protect my players and I think Romelu is one of the players that should be untouchable in terms of the respect from everyone,” he said.

“It’s not one goal or one ball that hit the post or one that can make Romelu’s contribution below the top level, he’s playing extremely well for us and I have to protect my players when I feel they deserve it and Romelu always deserves it because what he does for the team is fantastic.”

Lukaku is expected to start on Sunday with Zlatan Ibrahimovic still sidelined with a knee injury.

Source:www.express.co.uk