Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United gamble has been vindicated by Romelu Lukaku saga at Chelsea

Despite the way Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tenure as Manchester United manager ended, he can look back and rightfully claim that time has proven some of his decisions in the job to be correct.

The Reds' hero had quickly fostered an air of positivity around the club with early wins, a plan to nurture young talent and give them chances in the first team. There was also a steady overhaul of the squad that put United in good stead for a title run-in.

It wasn't to last, though, as form dipped and Solskjaer's tactical shortcomings were laid bare. That early positivity gradually crumbled away and disappeared.

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But, as the months since he was sacked have shown, he was not the only issue at Old Trafford. A return to the top relies on a lot more than just a new manager.

Whoever takes charge on a permanent basis later this year - with the recognition that a clearout of deadwood is in order - will inherit the basis of a squad that has the individual quality required to win major honours — an endorsement of the positive impact Solskjaer had on the team. And one of the more eye-catching ruthless calls of his time as United manager is now being vindicated.

Romelu Lukaku has fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge since he re-joined the club for a club-record £97.5m fee. He had a promising start to his season, scoring regularly in early games. But an injury in the Champions League against Malmo saw him sidelined, and in recent months Kai Havertz has been preferred and is in fine form.

His appearances from the substitutes' bench have also failed to impress, and former Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle criticised him this week, saying: “He comes on [to the