Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed striker Romelu Lukaku as “a quality finisher” after the Belgian scored a match-winning brace in their 3-1 victory at Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
The Red Devils overcame a rash of injuries to win their eighth successive away game under Solskjaer, and the Norwegian told the media how pleased he was with Lukaku as he deputised for Marcus Rashford in attack:
“He was through the middle. We created chances for him, he put them away well. He’s done loads of running up and down the line, right wing, left wing. He’s had a different role because of Rash’s form.
“He got a chance up front. Two very good finishes, could have had another one as well earlier on, so I’m very pleased for Rom. He is a quality finisher.
“It’s great to have him around the place, always happy, always working on his finishing. He’s played more than you think, but he’s played wide right, wide left, so it’s Rash’s form that has moved him out there. Now with Rash’s injury he grabbed the chance.”
Solskjaer said after the trip to Selhurst Park that he was particularly wary of this fixture:
Lukaku‘s brace in south London ended a run of nine appearances without scoring in all competitions, having last found the back of the net against Reading in the FA Cup on January 5.
The 25-year-old has played the full 90 minutes in each of United’s last three Premier League games.
Luke Shaw helped set Lukaku up for the breakthrough as he calmly side-footed into the far corner, while he showed poise to shift his body and volley home their second after 52 minutes.