JESSE LINGARD has joked about his Manchester United team-mates encouraging him to celebrate his winner against West Ham.
The England winger, 28, was reluctant to honour his stunning strike and has compared the incident to being ‘forced to talk to a girl’.
Lingard shared a meme of the goal with the caption: “When you force your friend to go talk to the girl he likes.”
The meme shows Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire pushing the match winner towards the joyous Man Utd fans.
Lingard accompanied the post with laughing emojis as he enjoyed a bit of banter with his 8.6million Instagram followers.
The Man Utd star spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham and enjoyed significant success at the London Stadium.
Lingard scored nine goals in 16 Premier League appearances for the Hammers – his best Prem return – to help them qualify for Europe.
West Ham are reportedly keen on re-signing the player, who has one year left on his Old Trafford contract.
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Lingard’s goal gave Man Utd a 2-1 lead in the 89th minute and they held on for all three points after Mark Noble missed an added-time penalty.
Speaking to Premier League Productions after the match, Red Devils striker Michael Owen blasted Lingard for not celebrating the goal.
He said: “I can’t believe players don’t celebrate when they score a goal against their old club, he was only there two minutes.”
But Lingard was delighted with his winner, telling the press: “I’m over the moon.
“I got a brilliant reception when I came on I had a good time at West Ham but I have to move on and do my best for Man United.
“I have been working hard and to overcome last week it wasn’t easy but to get some minutes today and score was brilliant.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
