Mourinho: The time is right for Lukaku

Jose Mourinho backed Romelu Lukaku to shine against his former club as early Premier League pace-setter Manchester United host Everton at Old Trafford on Sunday. United's league record had been perfect until they were held to a 2-2 draw at Stoke City last Saturday, although the disappointment of conceding twice was mitigated by the impressive scoring form of Lukaku and Marcus Rashford.

Steven Gerrard on Romelu Lukaku: "Ever since he's gone to Utd, he's got a spring in his step." pic.twitter.com/6ITAq9UIw3

— Squawka News (@SquawkaNews) September 12, 2017

Now 24 and with six years of Premier League experience behind him, Lukaku is now ready to succeed at the top level according to his manager, unlike in 2011 when he joined Chelsea from Anderlecht. "I think Romelu has come here at the right moment," Mourinho said.

Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku has outscored the entire Everton team in the Premier League: https://t.co/qgZnNGZJee pic.twitter.com/ZTzg5ONq0c

— Sky Sports PL ? (@SkySportsPL) September 15, 2017

"He is a good age. He has a good number of years of experience with different clubs in the Premier League. He is clearly a player who has adapted to the Premier League. "He has good friends already in the dressing room and has had an easy integration into our group. The way the team is trying to play has good relation to his qualities as a player. So I think he has come at the right moment of his career."

✅ Man Utd debut ✅ Man Utd PL debut ✅ Man Utd UCL debut

Romelu Lukaku can't stop scoring for the Red Devils. pic.twitter.com/8tArO9m5py— BT Sport Football (@btsportfootball) September 12, 2017

Lukaku's strong start to life at Old Trafford, he has six goals in six games for United, will help to offset the absence of France midfielder Paul Pogba, who may be out for several weeks. Pogba's hamstring injury, sustained in the early stages of Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League victory over Basel, will certainly keep him out of Sunday's match. It is a significant setback for United, who started the weekend on top of the Premier League after collecting 10 points from their opening four matches.