Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho praises Romelu Lukaku despite poor form in front of goal

Jose Mourinho has praised Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku's contribution, even after the Belgian failed to score for the ninth time in the last 10 games.

The 24-year-old hit the ground running after moving to Old Trafford from Everton for an initial fee of £75m, scoring 10 goals over his first nine appearances across the Premier League and the Champions League.

However, the goals have since dried up, who went without a goal in four league games until he found the back of the net against Newcastle United on 18 November.

Against Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday (25 November), Lukaku again failed to get on the scoresheet as United laboured to a 1-0 win, but Mourinho insisted he was pleased with the striker's contribution, adding he "did not care" that Lukaku had not scored.

"In the last minute he was fighting and running back like he was in the first minute so I think it is also a mentality question," Mourinho said, praising the striker for the "phenomenal" way in which he won the corner which led to United's goal.

"The way Romelu ends the game making tackles in the left-back position: that is the mentality I want."

"Players are men, men are different. Men are unique cases. Some guys are capable to go into the limits of their efforts and some other guys, even with a lot of talent, they don't manage to do that, so Romelu for me was fantastic."

However, the Portuguese coach could be without Lukaku until the middle of December, as the Belgian is facing a three-game ban after footage captured him kicking out at Brighton's Gaetan Bong.

Lukaku kicked out at Bong twice during a corner that led to Ashley Young's deflected strike, giving the home side the lead in the 66th minute.

The incident was unpunished during the scramble, however, it was caught on camera and according to ESPN FC, the FA are set to review video footage of the incident.

If found guilty, Lukaku could be charged with violent conduct which would rule him out of United's next three league games.

The first would be an away trip to Watford on Tuesday (26 November) before two crucial meetings with Arsenal and Manchester City that could determine whether United can mount a title challenge this season.

However, the FA can only charge Lukaku if referee Neil Swarbrick, who was in charge of Saturday's game, did not see the incident.

Should he receive a ban, Mourinho will in all likelihood replace him with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who return to action against Newcastle last week following seven months out with a serious knee injury.