How Jesse Lingard is maturing into Manchester United’s creative hub

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When the Premier League kicked off back in August which player would Manchester United supporters have expected to play the most crucial role in the season ahead?

Paul Pogba? Romelu Lukaku? Marcus Rashford?

The star-names roll off the tongue, yet very few, if any, fans would have mentioned Jesse Lingard.

The 25-year-old has always been on the periphery of the first team picture at Old Trafford. He has been blessed with an abundance of potential, something that he has periodically demonstrated, but the attacker’s career and progress has been undermined by inconsistency and the arrival of big-money, star-name signings.

However, Lingard has emerged as one of United’s most influential players this season and his continued improvement under Jose Mourinho has come at just the right time with the team struggling to keep pace with cross-city rivals Manchester City. He was on target again on Monday as The Reds secured a 2-0 victory at Goodison Park to underline just how important his contribution has been throughout the campaign, but especially in recent months.

The 25-year-old has scored seven goals in the Premier League so far this season and also has four assists to his name, with Sky Sports reporting that he has been involved in a goal every 84 minutes.

Lingard’s strike against Everton complimented braces against Arsenal and Burnley, including a last minute equaliser at Turf Moor, meaning that only Harry Kane has found the back of the net more times since the start of December. His progress is further demonstrated by the fact that he is into double figures for goals scored in all competitions for the first time in his career.

However, it is only recently that Lingard has been given the opportunity to shine. Mourinho only handed the 25-year-old his second start in the Premier League in late-November but seven goals in nine games has quickly repaid his manager’s decision.

The attacker appears to have matured from a youngster with potential into an individual who is willing to shoulder the creative responsibility at Old Trafford. It is significant that his rise to prominence this season and burst of good form has coincided at just the moment when Mourinho and United have been under the most pressure from supporters and the media.

Pep Guardiola’s revolution at the Etihad Stadium, injuries to key personnel and dropped points against lesser teams has pilled on the pressure in the red half of Manchester, yet Lingard has emerged as a reliable and central component of the trophy-chase at Old Trafford.

It is not only his goals and assists that have impressed in recent weeks. The attacker provides energy, enthusiasm and dynamism in United’s frontline but has become significantly more consistent with the quality of his distribution and decision-making. Examples of his technical ability are being produced on a more regular basis than ever before and his knack of creating or scoring goals at vital moments in games is an invaluable quality.

Lingard is now United’s second-highest goal scorer this season and he is a crucial component of Mourinho’s side as the club attempt to hang on to Manchester City’s coattails. He is on course to have the best season of his career, which will come as good news for England boss Gareth Southgate with the World Cup now looming ominously on the footballing horizon.

Lingard’s rapid development is good news for United, but it may be even better news for England.