Jesse Lingard has reached make or break time at Manchester United… and Newcastle loan would be a chance to prove his worth

Jesse Lingard has been linked with a loan move to Newcastle United
Newcastle manager Steve McClaren worked with him at Derby last season
St James’ Park would be a great destination to prove he can make step up
The 22-year-old signed a new Manchester United contract in February
Lingard’s 85th minute strike gave England U21s a big win against Sweden

Published:
11:12 GMT, 22 June 2015

|
Updated:
12:21 GMT, 22 June 2015

View
comments

Jesse Lingard, the boy from the banks of the Mersey, has reached sink or swim time at Manchester United.

The Warrington-born scorer of England Under 21’s winner on Sunday night is now 22 and faces a defining season.

Newcastle United, whose new manager Steve McClaren took Lingard on loan to Derby last season, are interested in bringing the attacking midfielder to St James’s Park.

Jesse Lingard fires in England’s winner against Sweden in the Under 21 European Championship on Sunday

Lingard, the boy from the banks of the Mersey, has now reached sink or swim time at Manchester United

The deep end he faces may well be at the side of the Tyne.

Talented Lingard, whose one senior appearance for United was cruelly cut short by injury, has been out on loan four times.

On each occasion it has been to a side in the Championship.

Stints at Leicester City, Birmingham City, Brighton and Hove Albion and Derby County have all been viewed as a success.

But, perhaps tellingly, there has been no dramatic breakthrough, no ‘Jermaine Defoe at Bournemouth’ season.

Lingard is admired at United – he signed a new three-year contract in February – but he has now arrived at the time where he has to show that he can make that step up to the Premier League.

The forward, scorer of England Under 21’s winner on Sunday night, is now 22 and faces a defining season

Newcastle looks like a great destination to do just that. At Old Trafford they currently have more number 10s than the Embassy fag factory and Lingard’s chances to make the breakthrough on home soil would appear to be slim – despite the fact he started the first game of last season before that injury.

In the North East he would find a familiar manager who he has worked with before and an environment in which he will be given ferocious backing.

Should he recreate that sublime volley for England at the Gallowgate End confidence levels, on the back of undoubted adoration from 50,000, will rocket.

Lingard, pictured with Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek, has been linked with a loan move to Newcastle United

A glance at Twitter mentions from the North East after his Sunday strike confirmed as much in black and white.

Speaking two years ago, after a stunning brace in a pre-season 5-1 trouncing of the A-League All Stars in Sydney, Lingard suggested self-belief was something he needed to work on.

‘I believe in myself but I have to start believing in myself more,’ he said.

‘That is what the coaches have been telling me. I have to know what my game’s about and keep scoring.’

Back in Manchester they would be delighted if such a move is a success. There is a concern in some quarters that while there may never be another Class of ’92, the conveyor belt of talent is showing slight signs of slowing.

Newcastle boss Steve McClaren took Lingard on loan last season when he was Derby County’s manager

Talented Lingard’s one senior appearance for the Red Devils was cruelly cut short by injury last season

This summer more local lads who promised much were shown the door.

Tom Thorpe, for example, captained the FA Youth Cup winning side in 2011 and the Barclays Under 21 side but is now searching for a new employer (not that he will be without offers).

To succeed at United you have to have that X-Factor and 22 is a dangerous age – as Thorpe will now testify.

Lingard gave everyone a reminder on Sunday night with his volley that England’s Got Talent.

He may well now reinforce that in his final audition in Ant and Dec’s backyard.