Lukaku's slump down to missing link Pogba, says Scholes

Romelu Lukaku’s barren spell at Manchester United is down to Paul Pogba being sidelined, says Paul Scholes.

The Belgian international has been among the goals since his French colleague picked up an untimely injury against Basel in September, with a productive opening to his time at Old Trafford delivering 11 efforts in 10 appearances.

Lukaku has, however, gone six games without finding the target, with another blank drawn in a Champions League meeting with Benfica – during which he was kept off penalty duty despite Jose Mourinho’s side being awarded two spot-kicks.

Lukaku 7/2 first goalscorer v Chelsea

Scholes believes the 24-year-old is having to do too much himself and will only be sparked back into life once Pogba returns from a hamstring complaint.

The United legend told BT Sport: "I think if Pogba comes back he'll make a difference to the way they play.

"He links the team together and I don't think they have a good enough No.10 at the moment and that doesn't help Lukaku either.

"Pogba will make a difference and be more positive. 

"Lukaku is having to do a lot for himself but Pogba will make the difference. They are missing a player to knit the team together."

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Mourinho has admitted that he has "no idea" when Pogba will come back into contention, which does not bode well for United and Lukaku.

The Red Devils have faced criticism over recent weeks for an apparent lack of ambition, with Scholes admitting that a club used to an attacking brand of football need to make peace with a different approach.

The 11-time Premier League title winner added on United’s class of 2017-18: "They're in a position where they've brought a manager in to ultimately win the league.

"For four years the club hasn't really been in a position to determine how they win it.

"We'd all like to see brilliant attacking football — waves after waves of attack — but I don't think this team is capable of that.

"That's not the way this manager does it. He's first and foremost a defensive coach. He wants to set up in a way that will stop the other team playing and winning games. He's doing that.

"We have to accept his style of football, as many clubs have done. He's very successful at doing it.

"United have to challenge for the league, over the last four years they haven't, and this season they've won a lot of games.

"OK, it's not been brilliant football, but I'm just happy they're winning games."