Man Utd tell Romelu Lukaku to stay away from the weights

Romelu Lukaku admits Manchester United have paid the price for his dramatic muscle gain over the summer.

The Belgian international scored for the first time at Old Trafford since March in Saturday’s 4-1 win against Fulham. It was also his second goal in as many starts after enduring a two-and-a-half month barren run that saw him dropped by Jose Mourinho.

Lukaku revealed he’s been told to stay away from the weights in a bid to reduce his muscle mass, adding that club doctors have worked on specific routines to help him to return to his explosive best.

"It was at the World Cup (I bulked up),” he said. “I just felt great and I think I played great over there. Then when I came back it is a different type of style.

“When you play in the Premier League, you cannot play with the same amount of muscle as international football.

"That was something that when I came back I knew straightaway 'no, no, I cannot play in this style like this.'

“I had to lose muscle basically. So you just stay out of the gym, drink a lot of water, and a lot of veg and fish and it helps."

Mourinho has been trying to get to the root of Lukaku’s dramatic loss of form this season – even consulting Belgium manager Roberto Martinez over the striker’s issues.

The decision to drop him for the 2-2 draw with Arsenal last Wednesday was a significant statement, with United’s manager believing to the £75m forward simply didn’t have the intensity to compete against Unai Emery’s side.

And he was brutally honest with Lukaku before recalling him for Fulham.

“Me and the manager had good conversations in the last couple of days, where really he told me what he wanted from me,” said the 25-year-old. "And I know from my side I have to do better, and I just keep looking forward and improving, trying to add into my game and help the team to win.

"There was not enough intensity. I played with not enough aggression, I think.

"I think I played with intensity like everybody else did (against Fulham).

"For me, I was happy to play at a decent level again and now it's all about improving and continuing on a consistent basis."

Lukaku added: “After the World Cup, I think I really was like a bit tired.

"But, you know, I had the same thing in 2014 after the World Cup when I came back to Everton I was really in a slump after the World Cup.

"So, now I think I am in a decent level again and ready to go again.

"Me and the medical staff, we did like a lot of tests to see what was the problem and stuff.

"Also I had an hamstring injury, which is something that never happens to me.

“I’m training differently now - more prevention in the gym and I try to do more speed bursts in training. That, for me, is the most essential thing."