JESSE LINGARD has hit back at being dropped by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer despite being the ‘fittest’ player at Manchester United last season.
The Red Devils boss dropped Lingard, 28, ahead of football’s pandemic shutdown and gave him little game time despite the midfielder’s pleas.
Jesse Lingard has spoken of his attempt at a career revival over lockdownCredit: AP:Associated Press
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer left out the midfielder for a long periodCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Having scored on Solskjaer’s debut as United boss in December 2018, the academy product went on a long goalless run in the league that lasted until the final day of the following season.
But Lingard has detailed a fresh approach formulated during the first lockdown to get himself out of the rut.
He told BT Sport: “During the lockdown I recapped my best moments playing football – the season under Jose [Mourinho] where I scored all of those goals and went to the World Cup and the season when Ole came in and I started well.
“So I started recapping a lot of games to see where I did well, getting that fire in my belly and drive again to go and kick on because it would have been easy for me to fall off and take the easy option out.
“But a person like me who’s been through a lot and knows the game, I can’t just give it up like and I’ll always go out with a fight.
“I came back one of the strongest and fittest after the lockdown and I didn’t get my chance that I was waiting on.
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Lingard believes he was one of the strongest players at Manchester United before the summer restart of 2020Credit: Getty Images – Getty
“But the whole time I was there and not playing I was doing extra training and keeping on top of my fitness for when the time was right.
“So for me it’s about working hard and staying dedicated, and I went back to basics.”
Lingard made only three appearances in the first half of this season, all in the cups, before a loan switch to West Ham.
And he certainly made a quick impact with a brace on his debut versus Aston Villa.
Named in the line-up for a third time against Sheffield United on Monday, the 24-capped England international should have a big chance to impress in the final months of the campaign.
A spot in the Three Lions’ European Championship squad may be a long shot but Gareth Southgate was a big fan of Lingard’s in his Old Trafford prime.
I’m concentrating on winning games for West Ham, playing regular football and getting back smiling and back to the old Jesse again.
Jesse Lingard
On a potential international return, he added: “It’s there in my mind.
“I have my own targets that I have wrote down before I came to West Ham and as long as I can hit them, we’ll see which doors open for me.
“For now I’m concentrating on winning games for West Ham and playing regular football and getting back smiling and back to the old Jesse again.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
