Lukaku confident he is over Man Utd slump after positive opening to 2018

Romelu Lukaku says a flurry of goals to start 2018 has allowed him to banish memories of a barren run at Manchester United.

The Belgium international offered an immediate return on the Red Devils’ £75 million investment after being snapped up from Everton in the summer of 2017.

Netting 11 goals in 10 appearances saw the 24-year-old quickly billed as one of the signings of the season.

He was, however, to go seven games without finding the target at one stage, while contributing just one effort in 12, but has opened the new year with three goals in five outings.

Lukaku told MUTV on his return to form: “I think I started really well but then I had a setback for about two months where I didn’t play well. But, like the rest of the team, I’ve started 2018 really well so we have to keep going, keep working hard, improve and get results.

“It’s a situation where obviously I’m a striker first so I think about scoring goals, but sometimes there were moments where I was doing much more for the team, things which would benefit the team, so that’s the most important thing.

“The team comes first and I think I had to find the right balance between sometimes going for myself and sometimes helping the team. I think I found the right click and it’s going to benefit the team even more.”

Lukaku has also talked up his role as a team player at Old Trafford.

He was acquired to carry the goalscoring burden but is aware that Jose Mourinho demands much more from him than merely providing the final touch.

A man with 79 Premier League goals to his name added: “I’ve always been a goalscorer since I was a kid, so I never knew anything else.

“But, when you play for Manchester United, you know that the team comes first and, for me, it was also an important thing for me to come here because I wanted to play for trophies and fight for trophies and we’re still doing it. So that’s the most important thing and I’m scoring goals along the way, so it’s good.”

Mourinho has conceded defeat to arch-rivals Manchester City in the 2017-18 Premier League title race, but United remain in the hunt for major silverware.

They are through to the fifth round of the FA Cup and also have a last-16 showdown with Sevilla to come in the Champions League, as the Red Devils seek to mark their return to elite continental competition with a sustained challenge for the crown.