Jesse Lingard’s summer switch to Nottingham Forest continues to spark plenty of debate, with Graeme Souness the latest to weigh in with his opinion.
The Liverpool great argues Lingard would still get into Manchester United’s side, hinting they may have made a mistake in allowing him to leave. But he adds the move to the City Ground clearly “suited” the attacking midfielder.
Lingard linked up with the Reds last month as a free agent, ending a spell of more than 20 years at Old Trafford after he left when his contract was up. He featured 22 times for United last season, but only four of those appearances came as part of the starting XI.
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Forest fought off significant competition from West Ham United to secure his signature, with the 29-year-old having previously enjoyed a successful loan spell in the capital. He was also said to have had other offers on the table.
Pundit Souness told talkSPORT: “His contract has ended. He can choose what he wants to do.
“Is it because it’s still near Manchester? I hear that he has got business interests, whatever they may be. Could he commute for two hours a day, maybe slightly more with traffic? But it suited him.
“A question for you, does he get in the Man United team right now? I think he does.”
Lingard played the full 90 minutes in each of the Reds’ first two games as they got their Premier League campaign up and running. He claimed an assist against the Hammers at the weekend as the hosts triumphed 1-0, although there was a slice of luck as his scuffed shot hit a defender and rebounded into Taiwo Awoniyi’s shin and into the net. United, meanwhile, have lost their opening two fixtures, being beaten by Brentford and Brighton and Hove Albion.
Forest boss Steve Cooper said of Lingard after Sunday’s win: "He showed really good moments. His movement and his tactical awareness, how he played in certain areas, was really pleasing. He balanced off his game between staying with the midfield players and being with the two strikers.
"He had a really positive game and the good thing is he got another 90 minutes in. There's so many of our boys that are not 100 percent fully fit.”
What have you made of Lingard's first two performances for Forest? Have your say in the comments below
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