McAvennie: Lingard already contender for West Ham player of the season – Exclusive
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…
Jesse Lingard is already a contender for West Ham’s player of the season, according to ex-striker Frank McAvennie.
David Moyes signed Lingard, 28, on loan from Manchester United in the January transfer window and since then, the England international has hit the ground running in East London.
Lingard bagged a brace in West Ham’s 3-1 win against Aston Villa on his debut before assisting a goal versus Sheffield United and scoring his third Hammers goal versus Tottenham at the weekend.
McAvennie is delighted with the character Lingard has shown in claret and blue and is also thrilled with the partnership he’s already forged with Michail Antonio in the Irons attack.
“I think he is a contender [for player of the season],” McAvennie told West Ham Zone.
“His enthusiasm, my god. Between him Antonio, it’s a great partnership.
“He’s some player but when they’re together, it’s great when Antonio will go and shut down a centre-half. He just gives Antonio such a good time beside him. When Antonio’s got it, he knows he’s got an easy pass.”
We all knew what Lingard was capable of when he shone in the early part of his career at Manchester United.
His form has dropped in recent years but this is still a player with over 200 appearances for one of the Premier League’s top clubs, as well as 24 caps and four goals for England.
Lingard is a very talented player who simply wasn’t getting the rub of the green at Old Trafford and possibly playing for a club that was competing too high up the league for him.
Moving to West Ham has seen Lingard stand out more and his abilities have become a lot more appreciated as a result.
We’d love to see him signed permanently in the summer once his loan deal at West Ham expires but that is bound to depend on what Man United want to do with a player who’s in seriously good form.
In other West Ham news, Jesse Lingard could drive the Irons to a shock victory versus Manchester City.