Romelu Lukaku scored his seventh Premier League goal of the season (Picture: Getty)

Jose Mourinho has launched a thinly-veiled dig at Romelu Lukaku’s critics, insisting the Manchester United striker is more than just a goalscorer.

The Belgium international has hit the ground running following his club-record £75million switch from Everton to Old Trafford in the summer, scoring 11 goals in all competitions.

Lukaku scored his seventh of the Premier League campaign, equaling a United record held by Andrew Cole, as Mourinho’s side thumped Crystal Palace 4-0 to keep pace with neighbours Manchester City at the top of the table.

Following Lukaku’s two-goal showing in midweek against CSKA Moscow, Michael Owen criticised the 24-year-old’s movement, echoing the thoughts of ex-Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew who said the former Chelsea man needed be ‘cleverer’.

Mourinho, however, insists he is delighted with Lukaku’s all-round game and believes he would’ve played a significant role in the thrashing of Palace even had he not got on the scoresheet with a late header.

Romelu Lukaku scored Man Utd’s fourth goal in a crushing win over Crystal Palace (Picture: Getty)

‘Of course it is nice for a striker to score, it is nice for him to equal the record of such a legend in the Premier League like Andy,’ Mourinho told Sky Sports.

‘But I am happy with him – it doesn’t matter if he scores or not.

‘I was thinking in the latter stages of the game that probably Lukaku doesn’t score in this game and I was thinking he [already] had a good performance and a good contribution for us.

‘So Lukaku is not just about the goals he scores, he is about the way he plays and allows other people with different qualities than him to have conditions to shine and perform.’