Jesse Lingard’s future at Manchester United was one of the main talking points of the summer but a move away from the club never materialised. Instead, the 28-year-old ended up staying at Old Trafford and is looking to earn his first start of the season.
Lingard missed United’s Premier League curtain-raiser against Leeds due to a positive COVID-19 test but after recovering from the virus, he returned to the side against Southampton. The brief cameo at St. Mary’s was his first league appearance for United for over a year, having not featured once in the 2020/21 season.
West Ham were said to be interested in a move for Lingard this summer and one of their coaches, Stuart Pearce, has now commented on his future.
“He has missed the opportunity to leave United in this transfer window,” Pearce told talkSPORT, via the Evening Standard.
“He can reassess his situation come January once again and decide whether there is an opportunity to move clubs or whatever. He holds the cards. The most important thing for him at the moment is his football.
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“He is playing the odd game for United and playing extremely well for England. Those performances for England might just help get him in the United side.”
Despite not starting a game since last season, Lingard was named in Gareth Southgate’s first England squad of the season. The midfielder scored two goals and registered one assist in their 4-0 win over Andorra.
