Exclusive: McAvennie hails Moyes for Lingard ‘Masterstroke’ at West Ham
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie has heralded David Moyes’ decision to sign Jesse Lingard a “masterstroke” with the on-loan attacker shining at West Ham.
Lingard, 28, joined the Irons on loan for the rest of the season from Manchester United in January and has since scored three goals and supplied two assists in five Premier League appearances.
The England international has hit the ground running at the London Stadium and McAvennie claims the West Ham fans have taken a real shine to him due to his hard work and incredible talent.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with West Ham Zone, ex-Irons striker McAvennie said: “Sometimes when you bring a player in it gives the whole team a boost and I think this was a masterstroke by David Moyes.
“A lot of players at West Ham have come in, strolled about and took their money. But Lingard’s worked his socks off.
“The fans haven’t got a bad word to say about him, all you want is 100 per cent effort and he doesn’t leave anything on the pitch.”
Few January signings have impressed so quickly at West Ham in recent years.
Of course, we saw Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen come in and have an impact last season but over the years, players like Samir Nasri, Jordan Hugill, Patrick Evra and Nene have been signed in the middle of the season and proven to be more of a drain on the club than a positive.
Lingard’s lifted the whole team with his performances and there’s no doubting that someone of his character has also lifted the mood at the training ground and in the dressing room too.
We really do hope that Lingard signs permanently in the summer.
It remains to be seen what kind of fee Man United will want for the attacking midfielder but it shouldn’t be too much considering how out of favour he found himself at Old Trafford.
Either way, we’d love to see David Sullivan and David Gold free up the funds to get a deal done.
In other West Ham news, our panel of Super Fans are happy to see Fabian Balbuena go at the end of the season.