Patrick Rees
Manchester United have received a massive injury boost regarding Romelu Lukaku, as Belgium’s medical team has confirmed that the striker does not have a fracture or any structural damage to his ankle. ESPN claims that Lukaku picked up an injury while training with Manchester United on Friday and was checked over at hospital in Brussels on Monday while on national duty with Belgium.
The same source also adds that the striker was given pain-killing injections and then underwent a fitness test on Saturday morning before eventually making an appearance against Crystal Palace. Although he missed an absolute sitter, he managed to score his 7th Premier League goal in as many appearances and also managed to complete the entire 90 minutes.
Following this, he joined his national team camp at the Belgian Football Centre on Monday, but missed the training as there were some issues regarding his fitness. The medical staff were forced to scan his ankle, but no significant damage was unveiled and the striker is set to stay with the squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday and Cyprus on Tuesday.
⚽ @RomeluLukaku9 had an IRM (ankle) this afternoon ➡ No fracture, individual training program will follows. #BIHBEL #BELCYP #RoadtoRussia 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/PBdcXj9Zit
— BelgianRedDevils (@BelRedDevils) October 2, 2017
“Romelu Lukaku underwent an MRI scan but no fracture or structural damage has been diagnosed,” the Belgian FA communicated via the team’s official twitter account.
“The next days he will follow an individual training program. It is however too early to state that he won’t be match fit for the Bosnia and/or Cyprus game.”
The Belgian officials will let the 24-year-old follow the regular individual training program, while at the same time, Mourinho will hope his striker returns without any niggle as he is already without Paul Pogba. Besides, our new signing Nemanja Matic has also confessed that he isn’t 100% fit mainly due to the fact that he trained alone during the summer and also missed the pre-season games.
Matic revealed,
“I didn’t have pre-season. I trained alone. I can feel it in some parts of the game! My body is not ready yet and I have some difficulty, of course, but I try to hide that and to play simple. I will be better.
Soon after the international break, United have a trip to Anfield on October 14, followed by a game against Benfica, Huddersfield, Tottenham and Chelsea. Having an injured Lukaku at this point of time would be the last thing United would want.
