Ben Thornley says Romelu Lukaku can provide something different for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should he stay at Manchester United.
The Belgian has not featured in any of United's four preseason friendlies due to a 'niggle'.
Reports have claimed that Lukaku's injury is in fact not serious, but the club are trying to keep him injury-free in order to sell him to Inter Milan.
The two clubs are still someway off agreeing a deal, with United holding out for at least £75m.
It is very possible Lukaku could still be at United when the transfer deadline shuts on August 8.
Solskjaer has made it clear that he wants to play a fast and counterattacking style of play, which undoubtedly doesn't suit the cumbersome Lukaku.
But United won't get it all their own way this season, and MUTV analyst Thornley thinks Lukaku could be a useful addition off the bench.
He told TribalFootball.com: "It may not be a Romelu Lukaku team that he would thrive playing in, but with that being said, he does offer something different with his presence up front, so if he stayed it still wouldn't be an issue.
"I just feel that Ole Gunnar is moving to a slightly more dynamic and fast forward line."
It has been a up and down two years for Lukaku since arriving from Old Trafford in 2017.
The Red Devils outlaid £75m to sign the 26-year-old from Everton and he fired in the goals in his debut season, finishing 27 for the campaign.
However, he was a shadow of that player last season and caught the ire of United supporters with his lack of movement up front.
Debate will continue over his United legacy should he depart for Inter, but Thornley thinks it is Solskjaer's style of play rather than Lukaku's ability that will call an end to his time in Manchester.
He added: "I think he proved in his first season that he can score goals. I think he scored 27 goals that season. There's no question that he's got that ability. At Man Utd when you're challenging for honours you need to have a striker that's going to be scoring you 25, 27 goals a season and he was the last United player to do that. I just think that for whatever reason it didn't happen for him last season. He just hasn't hit the heights after that season.
"I'm not too sure that with the way that Ole Gunnar wants to play and certainly the way that he's indicated that he might play from the preseason games so far, is that with Lukaku's stature it probably doesn't fit the style of play that Solskjaer wants.
"I mean, he's got nimble players up there, he's got fast players there that are quick off the mark that look like they are going to try and win the ball back up the park if people give them an opportunity to do that."
