'Ibrahimovic's aura could upset Lukaku'
Former England international Jamie Carragher says that Zlatan Ibrahimovic's ego and aura could upset fellow striker Romelu Lukaku after the Swede made his comeback from injury in Saturday's win over Newcastle.
Ibrahimovic returned from a seven-month absence in the win, after suffering a serious knee injury in a Europa League game against Anderlecht last season.
The giant Swede replace Anthony Martial in the 77th minute and promtly took up his place up front, forcing Lukaku to play on the right wing. It was an immediate demonstration of intent from the veteran and something Carragher feels could cause problems in the future.
Speaking on 'Monday Night Football' on 'Sky Sports', Carragher said: 'Lukaku's goal could be the most important in that 4-1 victory, because, if we are talking about Zlatan and the effect he is going to have on Manchester United – and it is brilliant for United to have a player of that quality – but when he comes on, it's hilarious, he tells Lukaku to get on the right wing and Lukaku does it. Zlatan is not going to do that job, and Lukaku doesn't want to do that either.
'The goal, the confidence it will give Lukaku having not scored in a while, and the big man's back calling himself a lion. I don't know if he (Zlatan) will have too much mentally and if it will effect Lukaku.
'You can imagine Zlatan in training, telling Lukaku to get on the right wing. Sooner or later, Lukaku is going to have to tell him, no you get on the right wing, I'm the £90m centre forward. I don't think they can play together.'
Lukaku has been a key player for United so far this season, with Mourinho saying that in the absence of Ibrahimovic, he had no other central striking options.
However, with Ibrahimovic now back in action, former Liverpool man Craig Bellamy believed that Mourinho is soon going to be forced to choose who is hist first choice striker.
'The concern with Zlatan is that he always has been the main man wherever he has been. I imagine Lukaku really looks up to him,' he explained.
'The energy Zlatan creates, it will be all about him, he's always known it that way. You can talk about the team, but forwards have to be different, you have to be that little bit selfish in what you do for the team, it needs to be about you because that is where you get your confidence, you win games.
'Lukaku can't play anywhere else apart from up front. There are going to be a lot of games, they are both going to get a lot of game time, the problem is when the big games arrive, later stages of Champions League, who is going to play in those'.