Romelu Lukaku stretchered off in Manchester United, Southampton clash

Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has been stretchered off the Old Trafford pitch following a clash of heads in Saturday's Premier League game with Southampton.

The Belgian collided with Saints defender Wesley Hoedt in the eighth minute and was treated for five minutes before being carried away by the medical staff.

Lukaku, who had missed a glaring opportunity from Juan Mata's cross moments earlier, went up for a header against Hoedt and clashed heads before appearing to land awkwardly.

Television cameras showed the 24-year-old blinking as a doctor held the player's head while he was lifted onto the stretcher, strapped in and carried off with an oxygen mask to warm applause from the Old Trafford crowd.

Marcus Rashford had begun warming up as the extent of Lukaku's injury became clear and Jose Mourinho brought the young Englishman on as a replacement for the former Everton forward.

The Portuguese had previously admitted that he wanted to give Lukaku a rest but could not do so due to the demands of the game.