Manchester United have made a disheartening start to their league campaign, suffering back to back losses at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur, after narrowly beating Leicester City on the opening day. However, Jose Mourinho’s men managed to bounce back against Burnley last weekend through a brace from Romelu Lukaku.
Recent Signs Are Promising
One man going under the radar in recent games is Jesse Lingard. The English attacker was instrumental in United’s 2-0 success at Turf Moor on Sunday. His off the ball movement and slick build-up play caught the eye during the match.
Incredible Last Campaign
Lingard had already proven his value to Mourinho’s team last season when he registered 13 goals and grabbed seven assists in 48 matches across all competitions. His incredible contributions saw him rewarded with a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. However, he failed to justify his inclusion in the Three Lions side after a series of underwhelming performances during the competition.
The 25-year-old would now hope to reignite his form from last season and could be a player to watch out for in the coming months as the Red Devils look to get back on track for a top 4 finish. Lingard is in need of regular game time which Mourinho is more than willing to provide right now.
Why Is Lingard So Highly-Rated?
The English international is not only a natural goal scorer on his day, but he can also act as the link between midfield and attack, a role he was prolific in last season.
Lingard boasts excellent pace and can dribble with the ball in tight spaces while also possessing a keen eye for a goal. He is ideally suited to play in a modern-day, attacking midfield role but will face stiff competition from Juan Mata for that number 10 position in Mourinho’s starting XI.
Can He Be Mourinho’s Best Player This Season?
At 25, the Warrington born talent has his prime years ahead of him and will only get better with more experience. He has the potential to be a future superstar for United if he can develop his game over the course of this season. Lingard can be a star under the guidance of Mourinho this season but only if he can cope with the rising expectations at Old Trafford.
