Jesse Lingard thanks West Ham fans after warm reception upon return
Jesse Lingard condemned West Ham to their first Premier League defeat of the season, coming off the bench to grab the winner for his side.
Manchester United ran out 2-1 winners at the London Stadium thanks to a late goal from the England international attacker, 28, with Mark Noble missing a chance to equalise from the spot at the death.
Lingard replaced Paul Pogba in the 73rd minute before bagging his side’s second goal in the 89th minute, and he received a warm welcome from the home fans.
The former Hammers loanee was impressed, taking to his personal Twitter account to react after the game.
He said: “That’s football. Thank you for the warm reception today.”
Still admired
The Red Devils ace scored nine times and assisted four goals in 16 Premier League games for the Irons during his loan stint in the second half of the last campaign, and the fans apparently still admire him for the role he played in their sixth-placed finish.
Lingard refused to celebrate his goal out of respect for the fans, and most of them and his former teammates at east London would wish to have him back.
While he started all the 16 top-flight games he played for David Moyes’ side last term, he has had to settle for a place on the Man Utd bench, coming on to make his three league appearances of the new season and scoring twice.
It remains to be seen whether he can force his way into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s starting XI, but Lingard could consider his future if things do not change by January.
He has just 10 months left on his current deal, and he will be keen to know what the manager’s plans are for him before agreeing to sign an extension.
He deserves to be starting and playing regularly, and if he cannot be guaranteed that at Old Trafford, could a West Ham return be on the cards?
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