Lingard’s back on the money after paying Russia toll
JESSE LINGARD says he is ready to kick-start Manchester United’s push for a top-four place after finally putting injury worries and World Cup fatigue behind him.
The United striker, 25, admitted his efforts with England in Russia took a toll on his body, leaving him battling a groin problem and contributing to his stop-start campaign.
But after firing the equaliser against Arsenal on a rumbustious night at Old Trafford on Wednesday, he claimed he is now fully fit and “raring to go”.
“I played a lot of games over the course of last season and, coming off the World Cup, it kind of took a toll. I wasn’t really 100 per cent fit,” he said.
“We didn’t get much rest in the summer after the World Cup, so coming back there’s always going to be little niggles here and there. It got to a point where I couldn’t carry on, so that break did me well and I’m raring to go now and can’t wait to kick on.”
Lingard returned from Russia with an abductor tear and initially felt rest would correct the problem before returning to United after his brief summer break.
Yet that failure to tackle the injury properly saw him carry it into the season and eventually he missed five matches in September and October.
“It was a good season for me on a personal level and an enjoyable summer and I wanted to kick-start this season in the same form,” he said. “You have setbacks throughout the season, but it’s how you bounce
back. I played [against Arsenal] and scored and now I am raring to go. I always start scoring in December.”
Lingard, who bagged five goals in the final month of 2017, got the month up and running with a rapid-response equaliser to square the match at 2-2 just 76 seconds after Alexandre Lacazette had put Arsenal in front.
And while Jose Mourinho was frustrated at another two points dropped just 12 days after suggesting a top-four spot by the turn of the year, there was much to commend
about the display. Not least of which the collective spirit shown by the players he selected after once again leaving the controversial figure of Paul Pogba on the bench, added to the lift a tenacious performance gave to an Old Trafford that has not had much to cheer of late.
Mistakes and slow starts, which have seen them concede the first goal in nine of their 15 games this season and the two in six of those, are hampering efforts to reach the top four.
While they have rescued three draws and two victories from such positions, Lingard admitted that having to come from behind is hampering any upward push.
“It has always been that we never give up – you’ve seen over the years the comebacks that United have made, so for us to just keep that spirit alive is good,” he said.
“But of course going in front [first] would help. Leading the game, especially going in at halftime leading, always puts you in a comfortable position and hopefully we can do that for the remainder of this season.
“The first 20 seconds against Arsenal got the crowd up on their feet and it kind of gave us a buzz after that. But, after the draw against Southampton, we had to put on a performance for the fans and show the passion on the pitch for them.”
Arguments will rage about whether getting into the league’s top four constitutes success for United but there is belief within the dressing room they will get there.
Lingard added: “We believe that as a squad, yes. There’s a long way to go in the season, so for us it’s about taking every game as it comes and trying to get the three points. But you can make up ground quickly this month.”