A battle that helps United

– Jesse Lingard (above) says his friendly rivalry with Marcus Rashford will be the driving force behind Manchester United’s bid to climb into the Premier League’s top four as they prepare to face Fulham today.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has earned praise for inspiring his side’s 10-match unbeaten run since replacing the sacked Jose Mourinho in December.

With victories in nine of those games, fifth-placed United have surged back into the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League via a top-four finish.

United sit just two points behind Chelsea and can end this weekend in fourth place if they beat struggling Fulham at Craven Cottage and Maurizio Sarri’s team lose at Manchester City tomorrow.

One of Solskjaer’s most significant contributions following his arrival from Molde has been putting a smile back on the faces of his players.

Many of United’s stars had feuded with Mourinho and their performances dipped as a result.

Paul Pogba is the most obvious case, the France midfielder struggling badly under Mourinho but quickly showing his class in United’s revival.

Rashford scored the first goal of the Solskjaer reign against Cardiff, while Lingard struck twice in that 5-1 rout.

Having netted the winner in United’s 1-0 victory at Leicester last weekend, Rashford has now scored in six of his side’s eight league games under Solskjaer.

And Lingard believes his good-natured competition with Rashford, including goal and assist targets for each player, has helped bring the best out of them.

“Marcus and me have been setting targets for each other to challenge ourselves,” Lingard said.

“Obviously it’s different aims, maybe in certain games it’s how many shots, or this many touches in a game.

“It’s just different random things, just to make you think and it’s to kind of push each other because you want your friend to be successful as well.”

If Solskjaer can lead United to silverware and finish in the top four it might be hard for the board to ignore his credentials. –

London

Marcus and me have been setting targets for each other to challenge ourselves.

Jesse Lingard Manchester United striker