Frank McAvennie wowed by Jesse Lingard form 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 paid tribute to Jesse Lingard as the West Ham loan star continued his fine form in London at the weekend.
Lingard, 28, netted twice in the first half as the Irons beat Leicester 3-2 at the London Stadium to continue on their march towards potentially qualifying for the Champions League.
Lingard’s form has understandably attracted a lot of praise and last week, ex-Millwall man Tony Cascarino suggested on talkSPORT that the England international is a contender for the player of the year award even though he’s only played since January.
Bruno Fernandes won the award last term despite only joining Manchester United midway through the campaign.
When asking McAvennie about whether Lingard could win the award in similar fashion to Fernandes, the ex-Hammers striker raved about the loan star’s improvement and for putting himself in contention for the England squad at the Euros.
“Listen, one man doesn’t make a team but he’s definitely changed West Ham,” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.
“He was way out of the team at Man United but I said if we get the Lingard of three years ago, I’d take him in a heartbeat.
“But the last two-and-a-half years, what’s he been doing? He’s been doing nothing. He’s been partying and there’s nothing wrong with that but you know what I mean.
“We’ve got the Lingard of old, he’s enthusiastic and he can go to the Euros – he wouldn’t have thought that three months ago. He wouldn’t be in the England team.
“He’s a talent and you’ve got to give West Ham and David Moyes credit.”
Since joining West Ham on loan from Manchester United in January, Lingard has scored eight goals and supplied four assists in nine Premier League appearances.
You’ll find it tough to find a more in-form player in the whole of the English top-flight than Lingard, who’s shown himself to be a major asset for both the Hammers and for England going into the European Championships in the summer.
In other West Ham news, this Chelsea midfielder could be offered as part of a swap deal for Declan Rice.