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Football

28th Sep 2017

Roy Keane praises Romelu Lukaku before setting him a tough challenge

Lukaku reached double figures for his new club in Moscow on Wednesday night

Simon Lloyd

Romelu Lukaku reached 10 goals for Manchester United in Moscow on Wednesday evening.

It’s taken him just nine games with his new club to reach double figures and, like many of the club’s supporters, Roy Keane has been impressed with what he’s seen so far from the Belgian international at United.

Speaking on ITV Sport after watching Lukaku score twice in United’s 4-1 victory over CSKA Moscow, Keane praised the striker’s scoring start to life at Old Trafford and his character.

“He’s a good player. He’s a good age at 24 and an international player. He knows the Premiership and I think he was a bargain at £75m. It was obvious to me he was going to score goals and he’s got off to a good start.

“He’s a big, strong boy and he speaks well and comes across well and seems like a decent character.”

Although the former United captain clearly thinks highly of the club’s new number nine, Keane also added that Lukaku will need to continue his prolific rate of scoring when Jose Mourinho’s side face stronger opposition in the weeks and months ahead.

“The big tests for Lukaku will come in the big games,” he said. “United haven’t had to play anyone big yet, while you can only beat what’s in front of you.

“The big test for all United strikers is whether he can score the big goals in the big games.”

United are level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, although Pep Guardiola’s 5-0 victory over struggling Crystal Palace saw them go top on goal difference last weekend.

With United set to host Palace on Saturday and City facing a trip to Stamford Bridge, Lukaku and his teammates could well be sitting top of the table by the end of the week. This said, they are yet to face any of the five teams who finishes above them in the table last season.