MANCHESTER United striker Romelu Lukaku has escaped a Football Association sanction for his alleged kick at Brighton’s Gaetan Bong.

Images appeared to show the 24-year-old kicking out twice at the Albion defender just before Ashley Young’s strike deflected in off Lewis Dunk to secure Jose Mourinho’s men a 1-0 win.

Lukaku was left sweating on FA action as retrospective punishment for violent conduct would incur a three-match ban, ruling him out of the derby clash with Manchester City.

But the panel of three ex-Premier League referees reviewing the case didn’t agree that it was worthy of a sending off so the striker will face no further sanction.

Referee Neil Swarbrick took no action against Lukaku at the time and the incident which was was confirmed to have been missed by officials at Old Trafford.

The outcome will be a huge relief to Mourinho, who was singing Lukaku’s praises after the Brighton match.

The striker has mustered just one goal in his last 10 matches for the club but the United boss is in awe of the Belgium international’s relentless drive, which he believes puts other similarly talented players to shame.