Lukaku Excelling Amidst Doubts
The 24-year-old, who was signed from Everton by Jose Mourinho on a five-year contract, has opened the season with six goals in his first six fixtures for the Reds ahead of the Super Sunday meeting against his former side on Sky Sports Premier League.
Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in 219 games during a glittering career for United, believes that Lukaku can match his goal-scoring feats despite the inevitable weight of expectation on his shoulders
Lukaku has impressed in leading the United strike force
"Lukaku has made a good start at dealing with the pressure as a striker at United," he told the Daily Mirror.
"There is always a price ticket around your neck, especially in the early matches. If you don't score, people say, 'Hey, he's not scoring'. But Romelu is scoring goals and I'm certain that will continue."
Former Reds striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was full of praise for Lukaku
"Like me, I think he is a pure No.9, playing through the middle. You wouldn't put me on the wing. The same with him. I was the same type of player, making runs behind, dangerous in the box and holding the ball up.
"He has made a real difference to United. He has scored goals from the off and has the right boss, in Jose Mourinho, to guide him. There will be difficult phases to come. But Mourinho has been there and done it and will know how to guide him through any rough patches."
Lukaku is the player who leads the United strike force and Van Nistelrooy believes the Belgian international can improve on his 26 goals in 39 fixtures last season at Goodison Park.
"There is no reason why he can't score even more for United," Van Nistelrooy added. "He is a player more than capable of breaking records, including mine."
The former prolific United forward continues to follow his former club with interest and believes they are well equipped to better on their performance last season, which included victory in the League Cup and Europa League.
"This time around, with the squad they have, I think they are capable of competing in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
"They definitely have the squad. It's also important that they have width and quality in the side. They look rock-solid, have creativity and goals up front. And soon they will also have Zlatan Ibrahimovic back. It will be great to have his quality and experience."
'A joy to watch Lukaku & Rashford'
Daley Blind admits it is a joy to watch Manchester United's new strike force of Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford in action.
Van Nistelrooy was also keen to highlight the growing maturity and progress by fellow attacker Marcus Rashford after first seeing the teenager in action during his youth career.
"I first saw Rashford in a UEFA Youth League game against PSV two years ago and he was a talent even then," he said. "But it's amazing how he has developed. I didn't really imagine then that he would have broken into the first team around six months later.
"That says something about his ability to learn. That's a good characteristic to have."
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