Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has admitted the club cannot afford to rest striker Romelu Lukaku, as they wait on Zlatan Ibrahimovic to return.

Lukaku has been one of the standout players in the Premier League so far this season, looking almost unstoppable in front of goal for the Red Devils as he has smashed 10 goals in his first 9 games for the club.

But the 24-year-old has played 90 minutes in every one of those 9 matches, being rested only once against Burton Albion in the League Cup. And Mourinho insisted that the Belgian striker can’t be rested until Zlatan returns to full fitness.

“Without Zlatan, we cannot rotate the striker, especially because Marcus Rashford is playing also in other positions,” said Mourinho.

“So until the moment we have Zlatan, we cannot think about giving rest to our number nine the same way we give in other positions.”

Lukaku has been brilliant since joining from Everton in July, but Mourinho refused to take credit for the forward’s impressive start.

“Every step in his career, he grabbed it with both hands, since his first loan to West Bromwich Albion,” Mourinho added. “He grabbed that opportunity with both hands, fighting for his evolution.”

“He was very strong in his desire to be playing in a team with other objectives now and with Champions League football. It was always his dream to come to this level.”

“He works hard, he rests, he has a great professional life outside the football pitch and he has great ambition.”

“So it is a global evolution. It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t say that every step in his career with different managers, different players and different teams is not contributing to what he is now.”

“Of course now, Manchester United is a different level of expectation and he is coping well.”
[Quotes via Sky Sports]