Mike Southey

Thu 4 February 2021 16:00, UK

West Ham United playmaker Jesse Lingard enjoyed the perfect debut in the 3-1 victory against Aston Villa on Wednesday evening.

After signing from Manchester United on loan, the England international missed out against Liverpool but was handed his first start at Villa Park.

David Moyes will have been delighted with the impact Lingard made, as his two goals sealed the three points for the Hammers.

Lingard was phenomenal.

Moyes changed his system again to cope with Villa’s attacking threats, but that gave more responsibility to Lingard, Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio – something that saw them thrive.

The front-three interchanged perfectly, and all three highlighted that their constant changes in positions caused massive problems.

For the first goal, it was Benrahma who played centrally, and Antonio chipped the perfect ball across to Lingard on the left to slam home.

The finish was beautiful.

With four Villa defenders charging towards Lingard, he chested the ball down perfectly into his path before driving it through the grasp of Emi Martinez.

The 28-year-old only had an expected goal total of 0.47 according to WyScout, and his efficiency in front of goal could become a real weapon for the Irons.

Lingard completed 100% of his passes into the final third, and this front-three could become a real weapon between now and the end of the season.

Their interchanging was on show once again for the third goal.

This time, Benrahma was on the left, Antonio charging through the middle, and Lingard on the right to kill the game off after Ollie Watkins could have made it a nervous final few minutes.

It was the perfect debut for Lingard.

Not only did he get the two goals, but he proved that he can transform this Irons into an elite Premier League attack.

European football is a real possibility this season, and the addition of Lingard only makes that case even stronger for the Hammers.

In other West Ham United news, McAvennie claims Hammers should have signed Josh King