Football
Jason Dasey 6y

Romelu Lukaku 'redundant' if Man United are negative - Paul Parker

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane is a better striker than Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku, according to former Red Devils' full-back Paul Parker, who says the Belgium international can be made "redundant" by Jose Mourinho's defensive tactics.

Spurs travel to Old Trafford for the early kick off in the Premier League on Saturday, with both teams on 20 points, five points behind leaders Manchester City.

Top scorer Kane has been ruled out of Saturday's match with a hamstring problem, which also saw him miss Wednesday night's Carabao Cup loss to West Ham.  But when fit, the England international offers a greater threat than his rival centre-forward, says Parker.

"There's definitely a lot more in Harry Kane's game than there is in Lukaku's," Parker told ESPN FC in Singapore where he works as a junior coach and media pundit.

"When I look at Lukaku, and I look at the way he plays, he's more predictable. You know all his strengths... how he's a bit of a predator in the box, picking up the pieces, so you just have to be aware of him on set pieces. He hasn't got anything hidden that might catch you out.

"Harry can offer more. He can drop deeper. He can play up top. He's just got a little bit more about him. He can improvise more in his game because as many as he might score, he might offer an assist as well."

Parker, who won five trophies including two Premier League titles at Manchester United between 1991 and 1996, urged manager Jose Mourinho to play an attack-minded game to bring out the best in their star man who was signed from Everton in July for a reported £75 million.

"When you look at Manchester United and the quality they have across the park, they offer more than Spurs," Parker said. "But the problem is for Manchester United: are those players going to be allowed to attack? What style are Manchester United going to play?

"Because without the right kind of supply, as we saw in the match at Liverpool, Lukaku is redundant."

Parker added that Spurs deserve their high position in the table because of the quality in their attack.

"When you look at Harry Kane, you also look at Dele Alli. You've got Son [Heung-Min] as well. He was just coming back at the weekend, and he was fantastic, as well. His energy levels are absolutely brilliant. So you look at those two, and those two will definitely add a bit," Parker said.

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