The real Romelu Lukaku is back at Manchester United – and he’s here to stay

Romelu Lukaku has just scored back-to-back braces for Manchester United in the Premier League, cementing his place as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s number nine of choice.

When Romelu Lukaku tore his shirt off after scoring the winner in Manchester United’s 3-2 victory over Southampton on Saturday, he was sending a very clear message to the media:

“I’m good enough to be playing for this club.”

Indeed, much has been said about Lukaku’s weight gain upon returning from the World Cup last year as well as his poor touch more generally.

However, in celebrating that late winner at Old Trafford, the Belgian was letting his haters know that that kind of talk doesn’t phase him.

Lukaku was phenomenal against the Saints. His first goal was a neat finish into the bottom right corner from inside the box with his weak foot to give United a 2-1 lead.

When Southampton managed to equalise with a terrific free-kick from James Ward-Prowse into the top left corner, the 25-year-old looked determined to get on the scoresheet once more to ensure United left Old Trafford with all three points.

And he did it in style: that powerful shot from outside the box this time around but still with his weaker right foot is arguably the greatest goal he has scored in a United shirt.

That makes it two Premier League braces in a row for Lukaku, as he also put two crucial goals past Crystal Place at Selhurst Park last gameweek.

His recent performances have shown that he is easily the best natural finisher at the club, and deserves to be starting up top for the crucial games to come against Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.

So sorry, Marcus Rashford, but you may have to play on the wings for a little while longer because, right now, Lukaku is looking like a truly £75m striker.