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Romelu Lukaku: I'm not always an easy guy to manage

The Belgium international won both player of the season and the players' player award at the club's annual presentations at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Wednesday 10 May 2017 16:02 BST

Lukaku's future remains in doubt after he revealed he would not be signing the contract extension being offered by Everton (Getty)

Everton striker Romelu Lukaku admits he is "not always an easy guy" and thanked manager Ronald Koeman for pushing him to become a better player.

The Belgium international won both player of the season and the players' player award at the club's annual presentations at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall.

Lukaku is the top flight's current leading scorer with 24 and surpassed Duncan Ferguson's club record for Premier League goals this season.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Show all 22

1/22Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

David de Gea – 4 out of 10

So often the saviour, could have done more to prevent Jagielka’s peculiar goal, like closing his legs for starters.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Ashley Young – 7 out of 10

Offered more offensively than most and tested Everton’s defence with several crosses, but his team-mates failed to make them count.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Marcos Rojo – 4 out of 10

A more assertive centre-half would have clattered Jagielka and won the header that lead to the goal. Too often, Rojo is not that centre-half.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Eric Bailly – 6 out of 10

Dealt with Lukaku in the brief moments he threatened United’s backline on a largely quiet night for the hosts’ defence.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Daley Blind – 5 out of 10

Ineffective going forward first half, hauled off for Paul Pogba at half-time.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Ander Herrera – 7 out of 10

One of United’s brighter sparks but even so, should have done better than hit the bar when latching onto the rebound of Blind’s first half free-kick.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Michael Carrick - 6 out of 10

Struggled to have an impact and often too conservative in his passing when United needed a fresh impetus.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Marouane Fellaini – 4 out of 10

The many United supporters who believe he simply should not be in this team had their arguments boosted. Offers little more than a target on set pieces and a mistimed tackle.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Jesse Lingard – 4 out of 10

Like Fellaini, a display to fuel his critics. Wasteful in the first-half, largely anonymous in the second.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Zlatan Ibrahimovic – 5 out of 10

Still misses far too many opportunities for a frontman of his quality. Could have got United off to a perfect start but fluffed his lines.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Marcus Rashford – 4 out of 10

A night where his relative inexperience showed. Has good grace and plenty of time on his side to improve, at least.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Joel Robles – 8 out of 10

Recovered from a shaky display in the Merseyside derby to impress. Best save came when acrobatically denying Blind from a free-kick.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Mason Holgate – 7 out of 10

Mature performance from the youngster. Poked a low cross away from Rashford’s toes to keep it 1-0 towards the end of the first half.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Phil Jagielka – 7 out of 10

A quite remarkable finish for his goal and coped well defensively, although aided by United’s lack of pace in forward positions.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Ashley Williams – 4 out of 10

It was all going so well until that late handball. The Wales international wins a lot of plaudits, but this was another mistake in a debut Everton season peppered with them.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Leighton Baines – 6 out of 10

Played his part in a solid defensive display, but would perhaps have had more problems if facing the rested Antonio Valencia.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Idrissa Gueye – 6 out of 10

Swept up and stifled United attacks alongside Barry, though Herrera had the better of him at times.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Gareth Barry – 8 out of 10

The key man in Everton’s backs-to-the-wall resistance, did not mind getting a little dirty. Will have enjoyed one ‘experienced’ challenge on Rashford.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Tom Davies – 7 out of 10

No doubt buoyed by his new contract, the youngster was much better than at Anfield. Showed movement and intelligence breaking into the final third.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Ross Barkley – 6 out of 10

Another player who improved from Anfield, but in Barkley’s case it was not hard. If you’re being harsh, showed little creativity, but battled well.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Kevin Mirallas – 6 out of 10

Brought more invention to the line-up having sat out the majority of the derby. He and Lukaku were not on the same wavelength at times, however.

Manchester United 1 Everton 1 player ratings

Romelu Lukaku – 5 out of 10

At times guilty of not holding the ball up well enough and inviting pressure on his team, but his all-round display was an unselfish one for the cause.

But his future remains in doubt after he told officials in March he would not be signing the contract extension being offered by Everton.

To his credit he has not let that affect him with five goals in as many matches immediately following his revelation - although he has not scored in his last three - and part of that is down to Koeman's handling of the player.

"I'm very happy," Lukaku said in his speech accepting the two awards, according to the Liverpool Echo.

"I want to thank the manager for pushing me, even though sometimes I'm not always an easy guy. He's taken me to the next level.

"As a young guy I just try to learn every day and give my best. Sometimes there are ups and downs but it's always with the best intentions.

"I want to help my team-mates win and I have tried my best this season."

Koeman has always insisted he is calm about Lukaku's contract situation, despite increasing speculation about a return to Chelsea and reported interest from Manchester United, as the 23-year-old has two years remaining on his current deal.

 Lukaku is the top flight's current leading scorer with 24 (Getty)

Chairman Bill Kenwright remains hopeful of keeping the Belgian at the club for next season at least.

"I do hope we see many more goals from you, Rom," Kenwright said.

Academy graduate Tom Davies won three awards on the night: young player of the year, individual performance of the season and goal of the season.

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