Finally! Lukaku ends Old Trafford goal drought as he scores first in 997 minutes

Romelu Lukaku ended his Old Trafford goal drought against Fulham on Saturday.

The Belgium international had failed to score in 997 minutes of action, but found the net against the Premier League's bottom club.

Lukaku's last home goal came against Swansea City, now in the Championship, in March.

United won that game 2-0, with Alexis Sanchez also on the scoresheet, and his latest home strike also appears set to come in a victory.

The Belgium international's goal was the third in his side's game, with Ashley Young and Juan Mata netting the first two.

Lukaku had scored five goals prior to the encounter with the Cottagers, scoring once in a 3-2 defeat to Brighton at the Amex Stadium, twice in a 2-0 win at Burnley and once in a 2-1 beating of Watford at Vicarage Road, as well as a strike at Southampton in a 2-2 draw.

Last season, the much-maligned forward enjoyed a strong strike rate, scoring 27 goals in all competitions across 51 games.

This term, he has yet to score outside of the Premier League, going four games without a goal in the Champions League, while also drawing a blank in his sole Carabao Cup outing, as his side lost to Derby County.

Mata's strike set a record, too, with the Spain international hitting his 50th goal in the Premier League.

He thus joins former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres, Manchester City midfielder David Silva, ex-Chelsea striker Diego Costa and the combative forward's former team-mate Cesc Fabregas as the only Spaniards to hit that mark.

Mata has been out of favour under Jose Mourinho thus far this season and has played 10 times in the Premier League, though he has completed 90 minutes just once, in the opening game against Leicester City.

He was left on the bench for both draws against Southampton and Arsenal, last featuring against Crystal Palace, when he played an hour.

United have struggled for form thus far this season and sat eighth prior to kick-off against Claudio Ranieri's men.