Jesse Lingard’s Manchester United team-mates heap praise on the exiled midfielder after his stunning brace on his West Ham debut inspired David Moyes’ side to win over Aston Villa
- Jesse Lingard made the perfect start to his West Ham loan with a debut double
- His Man United team-mates hailed his display after the 3-1 win over Aston Villa
- Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes led the plaudits for the exiled midfielder
Jesse Lingard has received a ringing endorsement from his Manchester United team-mates after he netted a brace on his West Ham debut against Aston Villa.
The midfielder found himself outcasted at Old Trafford and was sent to west London on loan as he bids to rescue his career – and could not have asked for a better start to life at Villa Park as he inspired his new side to a 3-1 win.
While he has struggled to find his best form at United in recent years, he clearly has no shortage of support from the squad, who were quick to congratulate him on his lightning-fast start after months of being sidelined by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Jesse Lingard made the perfect start to life at West Ham with two goals on his debut
He has been showered with praise from his United team-mates after he inspired the 3-1 win
Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes led the plaudits from United players after Lingard posted a picture of himself celebrating during the game on social media platform Instagram captioned: ‘Perfect Start 2 Goals 3 Points’.
The England forward wrote: ‘Congrats bro!!’, while playmaker Fernandes appeared blown away with his perofmrance – posting a shocked and fire emoji.
Left-back Luke Shaw said: ‘Love that’, while club captain Harry Maguire also showed his support with a couple of emojis.
A few of Lingard’s United team-mates know what it’s like to fall out of favour at Old Trafford. Full-back Diogo Dalot – currently on loan at AC Milan – replied: ‘He’s back’, while Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who left for Bayer Leverkusen this month, sent the player a handshake emoji.
Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes led the plaudits for the midfielder, while there was also support from Harry Maguire and on-loan defender Diogo Dalot
Defender Luke Shaw and youngster Tahith Chong were other stars singing his praises
Rashford offered his congratulations to Lingard, who had been frozen out at Old Trafford
There was also comments from Tahith Chong – on loan at Club Brugge – who said: ‘Happy for you bro’, while youth prospects James Garner and Dishon Bernard McGhee also chipped in with praise.
There is hope that Lingard – who starred with England on their run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals – can restyle himself at the London Stadium under David Moyes, with the Euros on the horizon this summer.
Before the game, he hadn’t played a single minute of Premier League action, instead being limited to appearances in cup competitions. He had featured 40 times for his boyhood side last season but has come under fire for a decline in form.
The England international had not played a single minute of Premier League action this season
His new boss David Moyes has backed him to rediscover his form and make the England squad
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate was in attendance to see Lingard’s double on Wednesday night and Moyes believes he can help the 28-year-old return to the international fold.
‘If he keeps that form up then it might be Gareth coming knocking again,’ Moyes said after the game.
‘He will have his own ambitions and challenges to show people he is at a level and he showed a really good level, Ross Barkley is very much the same for Villa.
‘There are a lot of people who are pushing hard to make the England squad for the Euros and why shouldn’t Jesse push if he’s in the form he is in tonight?
‘If he keeps playing as well as he did he will do a brilliant job for West Ham and if he keeps going like that then he’ll get back into the England squad. I hope he can get back to that standard.’
