Man United news: Jose Mourinho admits Romelu Lukaku is exhausted but he cannot afford to rest him
JOSE MOURINHO says Romelu Lukaku is "a monster" - but admits his £75million Manchester United striker is exhausted.
The Belgian frontman has scored just four goals in his last 19 games after starting his Old Trafford career with 11 in 10 following his summer move from Everton.
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His manager knows that the 24-year-old needs a rest, but claims he is unable to give him one due to not having any alternative options up front.
Last season's top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic is still building his way back to full fitness after a seven-month absence, and the Portuguese coach does not appear to trust Marcus Rashford or Anthony Martial enough to start in the No9 position.
Speaking ahead of the Premier League clash at Southampton tomorrow, when asked whether he could rest Lukaku, Mourinho said: "No I can't. The boy is tired. He's physically a monster, but not a machine, and he's feeling it.
"First of all, people doesn't have to be grateful to Romelu, I have to be, not you, not the supporters, not the pundits.
"I have to be, and the other day I said 19 matches in the Premier League, now I say 20 matches in the Premier League, playing 90 minutes, I think for a striker, any player, he's absolutely incredible."
Mourinho continued: "But if you are a central defender, a holding midfield player, where you can control you're energy, positional play, you can resist and survive.
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"But for a striker to play 20 matches in the Premier League, 90 minutes, I have to be grateful. Is he unlucky in our box in recent matches?
"He was in the picture. It was not a direct influence on just him, but he was in the picture in some of the last goals we conceded, but it's a consequence of a player that really needs a little rest.
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"But the guy is fantastic for me and for the team and gives absolutely everything and I've no critics."
Mourinho opted to start both Ibrahimovic and Lukaku for the first time in the 2-2 draw with Burnley on Boxing Day.
The veteran Swede was subbed at half time after a poor first half display, further highlighting the need for Lukaku, but the Red Devils boss thinks they can form a deadly partnership.
He said: "It can happen but I think to happen they need both to be in their best moment and they're not.
"One is not, because the situation in his team didn't allow him to have any rest and he's giving absolutely everything in every minute and we just manage to give him a little rest in cup matches and even then he was on the bench for emergency situations.
"The Champions League was about the same. We had to fight until the last match for qualification.
"Zlatan is a man with an incredible injury, an injury that a 20-year-old man or young man would suffer, imagine a man 36-years-old and so many miles in high level football, so it's not easy.
"We did that against Burnley, we will do that in some more matches if we need to do, but for both to play together we need them to be at their best level."
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United head into the Saints clash 15 points behind neighbours and league leaders Manchester City.
However, they will be without a number of key men through injury as Mourinho revealed that none of those currently sidelined would be back for tomorrow or the trip to Everton on Monday.
Confirmed team news for those United stars missing against Southampton: Antonio Valencia, Marouane Fellaini, Michael Carrick, Chris Smalling, Eric Bailly, Matteo Darmian and Martial.