talkSPORT host Tony Cascarino has defended Jesse Lingard, claiming the under-fire midfielder is being singled out in a struggling Manchester United side.
Incredibly, the 27-year-old ended the last calendar year without a goal or assist to his name and his worth to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side has been questioned.
A recent video went viral on social media displaying Lingard’s ‘goals and assists in 2019’, something which wouldn’t have gone down well with the United academy graduate.
And while Cascarino acknowledges Lingard has been performing well below his best, he believes mitigating factors have affected him hugely.
“I’ve been there a couple of times myself, and it’s tough when you’re not playing well,” he told Weekend Sports Breakfast.
“Sometimes it’s personal as well, you have issues that add to what you’re dealing with on a daily basis and Jesse is not playing well on top of that.
“But United have not exactly been pulling up trees this season. It’s a guy having a difficult time.
“Is he going to be part of the future at Man United in the next 18 months in terms of being a regular? Probably not as things stand.”
Cascarino believes Lingard is being done no favours by his boss Solskjaer, who he feels is playing him in a position which he simply isn’t effective in.
“He’s been asked to do a role that I don’t think suits him. To be the creative player behind the forwards – it’s a big call,” he added.
“He sits in between being a winger and a midfielder. He’s not a creative guy who is going to open up defences.
“Lingard is a great athlete, he gets around the pitch and can do the simple things really well, but he’s not the technical player you can expect to win you games.”
Solskjaer is keen to add another advanced midfielder to his ranks with Paul Pogba’s future at Old Trafford still uncertain.
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On the weekend it was reported that United are considering a player plus cash offer for Leicester’s James Maddison with Lingard going the other way.
A move from Old Trafford may be likely given news Lingard has teamed up with super agent Mino Raiola, who has masterminded many of football’s biggest transfers.