AT LAST WE’VE GOT A LUK IN
Jose trusts Rashford and Martial to deliver
JOSE MOURINHO has backed Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to fill the void left by the injured Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku, Manchester United’s top scorer this season with 27 goals, is out of the trip to Brighton tonight after suffering a foot injury in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Arsenal.
The forward should be fit for the FA Cup final against Chelsea a fortnight tomorrow, but Mourinho said he trusts England star Rashford and France international Martial – competing to replace Lukaku up front – to deliver in his absence.
Lukaku’s form and fitness has meant few chances for Rashford and Martial to play through the middle this season, but the pair now have a chance to prove their worth there.
Rashford has 12 goals this season, while Martial – linked with a summer move away from United – has 11, with Mourinho claiming he still has faith in both, despite their limited starts this season. “They have had limited opportunities because Romelu has played all the games,” said Mourinho.
“He was playing well, the way I wanted him to play, and he had no injuries and no suspensions. “But I do trust them.”
Lukaku is to undergo further scans to determine the full extent of his injury, but United boss Mourinho said he was positive the £75million striker will be fit to face his former club Chelsea at Wembley.
Asked for the prognosis on former Everton star Lukaku, Mourinho said: “I don’t know, I just know that he can’t play against Brighton. Apart from that, we need to wait for more scans, more time. But it looks positive.”
Mourinho remains confident that Marouane Fellaini, out of contract this summer, will sign an extension and said United had upped their offer in a bid to ensure that the Belgium midfielder stays.
“It’s not frustrating for me because that’s football, he let his contract run until the end,” said Mourinho.
“You cannot say that it was the club. If there were no offers, then we could say the club let it go until now.
“But he had offers and he had offers in a progressive way. The offer he has now on the table is a better offer than he had six months ago.”