All eyes on Lukaku as he faces former club Everton

United coach Mourinho reckons time is right for hotshot striker to peak given his experience

Jose Mourinho backed Romelu Lukaku to shine against his former club as early Premier League pace-setters Manchester United host Everton at Old Trafford today.

United’s league record had been perfect until they were held to a 2-2 draw at Stoke last Saturday, although the disappointment of conceding twice was mitigated by the impressive scoring form of Lukaku and Marcus Rashford.

Now 24 and with six years of Premier League experience behind him, Lukaku is now ready to succeed at the top level according to his manager, unlike in 2011 when he joined Chelsea from Anderlecht. “I think Romelu has come here at the right moment,” Mourinho said. “He is a good age. He has a good number of years of experience with different clubs in the Premier League. He is clearly a player who has adapted to the Premier League.

“He has good friends already in the dressing room and has had an easy integration into our group. The way the team is trying to play has good relation to his qualities as a player. So I think he has come at the right moment of his career.” Lukaku’s strong start to life at Old Trafford, he has six goals in six games for United, will help to offset the absence of France midfielder Paul Pogba, who may be out for several weeks.

Pogba an unlikely starter

Pogba’s hamstring injury, sustained in the early stages of Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League victory over Basel, is almost certain to keep him out of today’s match.

It is a significant setback for United, who started the weekend on top of the Premier League after collecting ten points from their opening four matches.

Phil Jones and Eric Bailly are set to return in central defence, having missed the win over Basel through suspension, while Antonio Valencia should be restored at right-back, having made way on Tuesday as Ashley Young played for the first time since recovering from a summer operation on a hamstring problem.

Wayne Rooney’s return to Goodison Park from United — replacing Lukaku — has not gone as well as the Belgian’s move despite scoring in his first two league matches this season.

The Toffees have not won in five matches in all competitions.

Everton manager Ronald Koeman revealed he would hold a meeting with his senior players to try to get their season back on track before the Old Trafford trip.