Better than Zlatan Ibrahimovic, better than Wayne Rooney, better even than Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Romelu Lukaku’s first season impact at Manchester United has redefined the phrase ‘hit the ground running’.
To outstrips this group over his first six appearances is one thing, however – but Lukaku is even ahead of Cristian Ronaldo at the same stage of his 42-goal season. Ronaldo had just one goal after six matches that year; Lukaku already has six. Add his four for Belgium on international duty and Manchester United’s marquee summer signing is already into double figures for 2017-18. The match with Leicester, on August 26, is the only one he hasn’t scored in so far – finding the net against everyone else from Gibraltar, to Real Madrid.