Lukaku cleared to take on Hornets

ROMELU LUKAKU has avoided a threematch suspension for appearing to kick a Brighton player.

TV pictures from last Saturday’s game at Old Trafford showed the Manchester United striker appearing to kick out deliberately at defender Gaetan Bong, catching his opponent in the groin.

It came moments before the home side scored the game’s only goal.

With referee Neil Swarbrick failing to see the off-the-ball incident, the FA could have taken retrospective action based on video evidence. But a three-man panel failed to reach a unanimous decision yesterday, meaning Lukaku avoids a three-match ban that would also have meant him missing next month’s Manchester derby.

For tonight’s trip to Watford Jose Mourinho will wait for fitness reports on defenders Eric Bailly and Phil Jones before naming his team, with Marcos Rojo also in contention to start.

Mourinho seems likely to leave Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the bench as he plays his way back to match fitness following a career-threatening knee ligament injury.

Watford manager Marco Silva, meanwhile, will put to one side his friendship with Mourinho as he attempts to mastermind another victory over United.

The Hornets have made their joint best start to a top-flight season, sitting eighth in the table, with the chance to beat United for the second season in a row.

Silva said: “Before the match Jose and I will chat with each other but then it’s Watford against Manchester United.”