The former midfielder is not convinced by the Belgium international, who has thus far scored four goals in eight games this season
Manchester United may never win the league with Romelu Lukaku as their main striker, according to former midfielder Paul Scholes.
Lukaku joined United in 2017 in a £75 million (€85m/$98m) deal, and has since scored 31 goals in 62 games for the club.
The Belgium international has already netted four times in eight games this season, but Scholes is not convinced by the former Chelsea and Everton forward, insisting that he does not have the all-round game to truly be considered an elite forward.
“I’m just not sure you are ever going to win the league with a goal scorer like him,” Scholes told ESPN . “I don’t think his play outside of the box is good enough.
“I’m not sure if he works hard enough but he’s still a young man who has done well and scored a lot of goals. He’s quick and strong, but Lukaku is one of many United players who look like they’re short of confidence.
“I don’t think he realises how good he can be, but he needs help because who else can play centre-forward at United now?”
Indeed, Scholes does not believe that either Anthony Martial or Marcus Rashford are able to step into the fold when Lukaku’s form dips, with Jose Mourinho insistent on playing both out wide.
And the former England midfielder believes that competition for places is key, pointing to the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson had four centre-forwards he could call upon when the club won the treble in 1999.
“Maybe, but they look like wingers,” he replied, when it was put to him that Martial and Rashford can play through the middle.
“And they’re getting slagged off by the manager. We had four centre-forwards – [Andy] Cole, Teddy [Sheringham], Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] and [Dwight] Yorke – and when they through bad spells, which every footballer does, someone else was waiting to come in.
“That helped their performances because they knew that if they didn’t perform then they would be taken off. Maybe Lukaku needs that, too.”
Scholes has also claimed that even Lionel Messi would struggle in this United team , while also questioning the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal .
Mourinho’s side are back in Premier League action on October 20, where they will face in-form Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.