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Jose Mourinho fears Romelu Lukaku has lost pace after the Manchester United striker bulked up

JOSE MOURINHO fears Romelu Lukaku has lost his pace because he has bulked up too much.

Manchester United’s £75million striker has put on almost half a stone since joining from Everton last summer.

 Man Utd's Romelu Lukaku is a bigger, broader striker now - but is he also slower?
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Man Utd's Romelu Lukaku is a bigger, broader striker now - but is he also slower?Credit: Getty - Contributor

Club doctors have assured Old Trafford boss Mourinho the extra weight is all muscle and not fat.

But United are worried it has slowed down the 24-year-old.

Lukaku had a great start to his United career, scoring 11 goals in his first 10 games.

But since hitting the gym to improve his strength, the Belgian has gone through a dry spell, finding the net just once in his next 12 games.

 Jose Mourinho is thought to be worried even though Manchester United docs have assured the Old Trafford chief that Romelu Lukaku has only put on muscle, not fat
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Jose Mourinho is thought to be worried even though Manchester United docs have assured the Old Trafford chief that Romelu Lukaku has only put on muscle, not fatCredit: AFP or licensors
 Romelu Lukaku was a lean goal machine for Man Utd at the start of the season
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Romelu Lukaku was a lean goal machine for Man Utd at the start of the seasonCredit: Getty - Contributor

He then hit three in four but strangely refused to celebrate  against Bournemouth and West Brom.

After another three appearances without netting, some fans are losing patience with him.


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United have dropped seven points in their last five league games and trail leaders Manchester City by 15 points.

And early this month, at the peak of Lukaku's scoring slump, Mourinho told him he was simply not playing far enough forward.

He explained to the powerhouse frontman he was fed up shouting that to him during games from the technical area and him not responding.

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 Romelu Lukaku has hit difficult times after a dream start to his Utd career
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Romelu Lukaku has hit difficult times after a dream start to his Utd careerCredit: PA:Press Association

Mourinho believed Lukaku was dropping deep in games to get involved when the chances were not coming his way.

Lukaku stood his ground but the manager insisted he was bought to be on the shoulder of the last defender and in the box to score goals.


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Utd's Argentina defender Marcus Rojo is free to take on SouthamptonCredit: Getty Images - Getty
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