Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku avoids three-match ban for kicking Brighton's Gaetan Bong

Manchester United will be breathing a considerable sigh of relief following the news that influential striker Romelu Lukaku is set to be eligible for selection for a three-game stretch of Premier League matches that includes heavyweight clashes with Arsenal and Manchester City.

Lukaku featured for 90 minutes on Saturday afternoon (25 November) as Jose Mourinho's side edged past resilient Brighton & Hove Albion courtesy of an unfortunate own goal from Lewis Dunk. But fears that he could be facing a suspension later emerged after he was picked up on camera appearing to kick out at left-back Gaetan Bong during a 66th-minute tussle at a corner.

The incident was missed by referee Neil Swarbrick, meaning that the Football Association (FA) were permitted to intervene and reviewe the evidence provided it was also omitted from his post-match report.

As stated by the governing body, off the ball clashes that are not seen by officials are referred to a panel of former elite referees and retrospective action can only be taken if the decision is unanimous.

A charge of violent conduct, if proven, would have carried a three-match domestic ban, meaning that Lukaku was in danger of missing Tuesday [28 November] night's trip to Watford and the weekend meeting with Arsenal in addition to the Manchester derby against runaway leaders City at Old Trafford on 10 December.

However, multiple sources - including the BBC - now report that Lukaku will face no further action after the FA panel, who view the footage independently of one another, did not unanimously agree that he had committed a sending-off offence.

Although still comfortably United's top scorer with 12 goals to his name in 20 appearances across all competitions to date, the Belgium international, a £75m ($100.3m) summer arrival from Everton, has now netted in only one of his last 10 appearances at club level - a late effort in the 4-1 comeback defeat of Newcastle United on 18 November.

Mourinho is unconcerned about such a drought, however, praising Lukaku's work ethic after newly-promoted Brighton provided what he described as probably the toughest test his second-place team have had all season.

"[I like to see] people like Romelu Lukaku playing on the right, on the left, chasing defenders, the midfield players chasing the space in the middle, so I am happy with the attitude," he said.

"In the last minute, Lukaku was fighting and running back like he was in the first minute. The way Romelu wins the corner for the goal, the way he ended the game, making tackles in left-back positions, that's the mentality I want. And unfortunately not every player is the same.

"Players are men, men are different, men are unique cases and some guys are capable of going into their limits of effort and some other guys, even with a lot of talent, they don't manage to do that. So Romelu, for me, was fantastic. He didn't score, but I don't care."