Jesse Lingard’s anxiety for goals during the Sheffield United game has become very understandable on the back of an interview he gave after the game.
The Manchester United loanee was desperate to take the Irons penalty and was showing an eye for goal all night long.
It augurs well for the future with the 28 year old clearly ready to show Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer how wrong he was not to show more faith in him ahead of his move to the Hammers.
His enthusiasm and two goals against Villa was brilliant and again against the Blades he took every opportunity to set his sights on goal.
The penalty was a tribute to his hard running and flair and it was clear how disappoointed he was at not getting the chance to convert the spot kick.
He will return to Old Trafford at the end of the season but it’s pretty clear that David Moyes will make him a priority target for next season.
Explaining his Old Trafford position the attacking mifielder told BT Sport: “During the lockdown I recapped my best moments playing football – the season under Jose [Mourinho] where I scored all of those goals and went to the World Cup and the season when Ole came in and I started well.
“So I started recapping a lot of games to see where I did well, getting that fire in my belly and drive again to go and kick on because it would have been easy for me to fall off and take the easy option out.
“I came back one of the strongest and fittest after the lockdown and I didn’t get my chance that I was waiting on.
“But the whole time I was there and not playing I was doing extra training and keeping on top of my fitness for when the time was right.
Great stuff. Jesse will do well. Asking to take penalty is OK. Squabbling should have been left behind in the playground. I think he knows that and with performances like the last two games will see him shining in our team. Help West Ham to help you Jesse.
COYI
Clearly wants to return to man united. Enjoy it while we can.
Hopefully Moyes will keep videos of all Jesse’s matches so if we can’t buy him in the summer he can show them to prospective signings and scouts and say, “That’s what we want.”
Few people realise at Manchester Utd that during the international break, when Dan James scored for Wales and later Man Utd. Jess had put a couple in as well. Both players were in form Jess did not get many chances after that. Dan on the other hand scored in a few games off the bench here and there. I would not be surprised if per minutes played To this point now that Dan has scored more goals in minutes played for United. Jesse would have been holding his own with Dan at that point. Jesse James as I call them are/ were the mist underrated players at United before the transfer window.