Romelu Lukaku has scored 10 goals in his first nine games for Man United... but how does that record compare to other Old Trafford strikers?

He's only been a Manchester United player a few weeks, but Romelu Lukaku is already setting higher standards than ever seen before at Old Trafford.

The Belgian striker's double against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night made light work of a potentially tricky Champions League away assignment and continued his outstanding start to life at United.

Lukaku has now scored 10 goals in his first nine appearances for the club, already paying off a sizeable chunk of that £75million transfer fee.

Romelu Lukaku celebrates one of his two goals as Manchester United beat CSKA Moscow

Romelu Lukaku celebrates one of his two goals as Manchester United beat CSKA Moscow

The Belgian striker fires home his second and United's third goal in the Russian capital

The Belgian striker fires home his second and United's third goal in the Russian capital

United manager Jose Mourinho congratulates Lukaku on another superb performance

United manager Jose Mourinho congratulates Lukaku on another superb performance

He scored his first competitive goal for United in the European Super Cup defeat by Real Madrid, before following that up with two goals against West Ham on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.


Lukaku has since found the net against Swansea City, Stoke City, Everton and Southampton domestically, and also scored against Basle in the Champions League before his two out in Russia.

The first, just four minutes into the match, was a testament to Lukaku's strength as he powered home a header. The second was due to good fortune after Vasili Berezutsky's airshot came right through to him.

It helped maintain United's excellent start to the season and made Mourinho happy despite his gripes about the tight turnaround to Saturday's home match with Crystal Palace.

Lukaku tucks home his first competitive goal in United colours, against Real Madrid in August

Lukaku tucks home his first competitive goal in United colours, against Real Madrid in August

The £75million striker scored twice on his Premier League debut for United, against West Ham

The £75million striker scored twice on his Premier League debut for United, against West Ham

Lukaku celebrates with Marcus Rashford after opening the scoring against West Ham

Lukaku celebrates with Marcus Rashford after opening the scoring against West Ham

United's new striker celebrates with Paul Pogba after the Frenchman scored at Swansea

United's new striker celebrates with Paul Pogba after the Frenchman scored at Swansea

How Lukaku compares 

GOALS SCORED IN FIRST NINE COMPETITIVE GAMES FOR UNITED

Romelu Lukaku (2017) - 10

Bobby Charlton (1956) - 9

Robin van Persie (2012) - 7

Dwight Yorke (1998) - 6 

Wayne Rooney (2004) - 6 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (1996) - 5

Ruud van Nistelrooy (2001) - 5 

Dimitar Berbatov (2008) - 5

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2016) - 5

Eric Cantona (1992) - 4 

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Lukaku has hit the 10-goal milestone far quicker than his predecessors in the No 9 shirt - Zlatan Ibrahimovic needed 20 games last season, while Anthony Martial required 31 to achieve double figures.

In addition, no United striker in their modern history has a better goalscoring return after their first nine matches than Lukaku.

The closest comparison is with Dutchman Robin van Persie, who scored seven times in his first nine outings for United after joining from Arsenal in 2012.

This did include a hat-trick in a 3-2 win at Southampton, meaning he has one up on Lukaku who hasn't yet taken home a matchball while in United colours.

Wayne Rooney, who moved the other way to Everton in the summer, started his time at United with an impressive six goals in his first nine matches in 2004, including that unforgettable debut hat-trick against Fenerbahce.

Jumping for joy after scoring in the home Champions League victory over Basle 

Jumping for joy after scoring in the home Champions League victory over Basle 

Lukaku was also United's match-winner in a closely-fought victory at Southampton last week

Lukaku was also United's match-winner in a closely-fought victory at Southampton last week

Dwight Yorke also scored half a dozen times in his first nine matches for United after arriving from Aston Villa in 1998. Yorke ended his first season with the Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

Another prolific Dutch forward, Ruud van Nistelrooy, started with five goals in his first nine United matches after signing in 2001 and this total is the same as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 1996, Dimitar Berbatov in 2008 and Zlatan Ibrahimovic last season.

It certainly bodes well for Lukaku - and United - that he has started in such blistering form as they chase a first Premier League title win since 2013 and a first Champions League success since 2008.

Bobby Charlton scored nine times in his first nine games for United - including this one against Everton at Old Trafford in 1956

Bobby Charlton scored nine times in his first nine games for United - including this one against Everton at Old Trafford in 1956

Robin van Persie endears himself to the United fans by scoring three at Southampton in 2012

Robin van Persie endears himself to the United fans by scoring three at Southampton in 2012

Dwight Yorke scored six goals in his first nine outings for Manchester United back in 1998

Dwight Yorke scored six goals in his first nine outings for Manchester United back in 1998

Wayne Rooney celebrates the second of his three debut goals for United against Fenerbahce

Wayne Rooney celebrates the second of his three debut goals for United against Fenerbahce

Indeed, going further back into the history books, Lukaku has actually bettered Bobby Charlton's return of nine in nine when he first broke into the United first team back in 1956.

Lukaku now needs to ensure this burst of early-season goals is sustained as he bids to propel United back to the pinnacle of both English and European football.