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Romelu Lukaku dropped: Is this the clue Man Utd boss Jose Mourinho has snubbed star again?
ROMELU LUKAKU has been dropped from Manchester United’s match day squad as they face Bournemouth.
Man Utd: Lukaku ‘not having a good season’ argue pundits
Lukaku was left on the bench for Manchester United’s win over Everton last weekend.
But he has missed out completely this week for the clash with Bournemouth after going nine games without a club goal.
The Belgium striker, who has scored four times in the Premier League this season, was NOT seen boarding United’s flight to the south coast.
Pictures emerged of the United players boarding the aircraft yesterday afternoon.
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And Lukaku was not among the likes of Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, and Chris Smalling.
Tensions between Lukaku and Jose Mourinho appear to be growing with one report today suggesting the striker feels like he is being made a scapegoat by his manager.
Lukaku has struggled at times this term during United’s torrid opening to the season.
His mobility has been an issue for the fluidity of the side and last week Marcus Rashford played through the middle with Anthony Martial out left.
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Martial’s goalscoring form has eased the strain on Mourinho in recent weeks and his job looks safe for now.
But it could be back on the line with a big week coming up. Bournemouth today is followed by Juventus and Manchester City.
Mourinho has complained about team leaks after it emerged he would play Juan Mata against Chelsea as United travelled down.
And when asked if Lukaku would play this weekend after missing out last week, Mourinho said: "Why don't you ask him, ask Samuel.”
The United manager pointing at MEN reporter Samuel Luckhurst.
Lukaku missing out on the squad would be huge fall from grace after being one of the manager’s ‘generals’ last season.
It would be a similar situation to Alexis Sanchez missing out against West Ham earlier in the season, and the talk is now for a transfer for the former Arsenal star.
When asked why United have been struggling this season he complained about both ends of the pitch.
"Lack of goals and too many goals conceded," Mourinho said.
"I think everything is about the team.
"I don't like to say we don't score many goals because our strikers are not scoring. I don't like to say we concede too many goals because my goalkeeper does not save anything.
"I think it is about the globality, it is about the team.
"We need obviously to score more goals and we were punished against Chelsea because we didn't score the third goal and we could.
"We went to minute 96 against Everton with a corner because we didn't score the third, the fourth or the fifth before that.
"So, yes, we need to score more goals, but I think the team with more confidence, the players individually with more confidence, and more goals will arrive for them.
"(Romelu) Lukaku doesn't score for nine matches. Do I think in the next nine matches he's going to score zero goals? No, I think in the next nine matches he's going to score a few goals."