Jose Mourinho says Romelu Lukaku could start the FA Cup final on the bench as the Manchester United striker battles to recover from an ankle injury in time for the Wembley showdown with Chelsea.
Lukaku hasn’t featured for United since suffering his ankle problem against Arsenal last month and is set to miss the last game of the Premier League season against Watford on Sunday.
Now the Belgium star is in a race against time to recover for the Cup final on May 19, with United manager Mourinho conceding Lukaku might only be fit enough to come on as a substitute. “We hope he can play the final,” Mourinho said after Thursday’s 0-0 draw at West Ham.
Mourinho insisted he will not field a young team against Watford, even though United are assured of second place behind champions Manchester City. “I have every player apart from Marouane Fellaini and Lukaku available and I don’t go to the young players,” he said.
Lukaku has scored 27 goals since joining United from Everton in a £75 million ($101 million) deal last year.