José Mourinho optimistic over Romelu Lukaku injury

José Mourinho is optimistic that Romelu Lukaku will be available to face his former club Chelsea in the FA Cup final in three weeks time. The Belgian striker, who has scored 26 goals in all competitions for Manchester United this season, was substituted during the weekend’s victory over Arsenal, after a heavy challenge from Arsenal debutant Konstantinos Mavropanos.

Quoted in the Daily Mail, Mourinho said:

“I don’t think it’s something, or I hope it’s not, that in this moment keeps him immediately out of a game that is in three weeks’ time. But I don’t know.

”He wants to play all the time. He is never tired and, when he has small things, he doesn’t care. He still wants to go. So, for him to say immediately, to change him, it is because he couldn’t play.”

That’s clearly not an emphatic yes, but that he doesn’t seem too concerned is surely a good sign. Let’s hope it’s a case of bruising rather than anything more serious. Lukaku has been a key part of the success that United have had this season, and it’d be a great shame if he had to skip the grand finale at Wembley on May 19.