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Man Utd legend sends four-word message to Romelu Lukaku following Marcus Rashford form
MANCHESTER UNITED legend Andy Cole has explained to Romelu Lukaku how he must “go back to basics” to earn back a starting spot at Old Trafford.
Romelu Lukaku needs to 'go back to basics' says Andy Cole
Lukaku has not started a Premier League game so far under Manchester United interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Marcus Rashford has been given the nod in every league match so far since the Norwegian was appointed in December.
Rashford has grabbed his opportunity as the central striker with both hands, scoring in five in his last six starts.
Lukaku has had to put up with cameo roles off the bench, with his last start coming in previous manager Jose Mourinho’s final game in charge against Liverpool in December.
I think sometimes Lukaku doesn’t play to his strengths. His strengths are his pace and his power, running in behind
Cole admits playing for United is a bigger challenge for Lukaku than his previous clubs in England.
But when asked what the Belgian should do, Cole had a simple message.
“Go back to basics,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I think what we’ve got to appreciate, when you play for Manchester United, you haven’t got a weekend off.
“I’m not being disrespectful to Everton, West Brom but I think when you’re at those football clubs you can have a weekend off. You know ‘I don’t have to give as much but I know I’m going to nick one’.
“When you’re at Manchester United you’re expected to score goals, you’ve been bought for big money, there’s no weekends off.
“I think at times playing under the previous manager it didn’t help because there was no creativity in the team for him.
“So he wasn’t getting many chances and the chances he was getting he was snatching and he was trying that little bit too hard.
“And I think that’s the worst thing as a centre-forward, when you try too hard.
Solskjaer prefers Rashford to mobility of Lukaku claims pundit
“And as a centre-forward, if your game doesn’t start off too well, that’s where it goes.
“You’ve just got to be repetitive and say to yourself: ‘right, I’ll just go back to basics. If it comes in, I’ll play one-touch and move’.
“He’s got to play to his strengths. I think sometimes Lukaku doesn’t play to his strengths.
“His strengths are his pace and his power, running in behind.”
United are back in action on Friday when they visit Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round.