Will Jesse Lingard follow in Januzaj's footsteps?

Jesse Lingard in action for Manchester United v Manchester City in the U21 League

When young players are sent out on loan, you never know how they might come back. While some return with renewed vigour, most of them go on a perennial loan spell, without ever returning back to their parent club. Such is the pressure on the big sides these days that, youngsters, unless prodigiously gifted, don’t really have a chance of making it into the starting lineup.

The sheer number of players at the manager’s disposal and the pressure to keep getting results means that unless circumstances are extreme, not many get the chance to prove themselves. As a result, more often than not, they are forced to go out on loan either to a lower league side or abroad to get into the good books of the manager.

One such player who will be hoping to break into the first-team and do just that will be the 21-year-old forward Jesse Lingard. The Englishman enjoyed a hugely successful 6 month loan spell at Birmingham till the end of 2013, where he scored four on his debut for the club against Sheffield Wednesday. Ever since that scintillating start, he went on from strength to strength and has not looked back since. His exploits at St. Andrews haven’t gone unnoticed, as his performances saw him recalled from his loan spell and back into the United ranks last month.

At a time when United are looking increasingly lethargic up front, as was evident from their clash against Olympiakos on Tuesday night, Lingard might just provide them with that extra bit of oomph in the final third. Although there were fitness concerns for the manager in the striking department, Lingard hasn’t yet had the opportunity to show Old Trafford just what he can do. After being recalled by David Moyes, the closest the talented youngster came to a first-team appearance was when he was an unused substitute against Swansea City last month.

Lingard will be hoping that Moyes will do good on his promise of giving the young guns the opportunities they deserve. Already this season, one talented teenager has shown the world just how good he is and got into the first-team squad with consummate ease. Adnan Januzaj who almost made his first appearance in Sir Alex Ferguson’s last game, has been a revelation thus far. And has emerged as one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise lacklustre season for United.

On the evidence of his performances for the reserve side, it looks as though, it is only a matter of time, before Lingard is given that opportunity and follows suit. Although he hasn’t had too many first-team opportunities, the youngster has wasted no time in reacquainting himself with Warren Joyce’s reserve side and players his own age. Ever since his return, Lingard has quickly established himself as the go-to-man for the Under-21 side. Lingard is currently the top scorer this season and is getting better and better, with each passing game.

Speaking to MUTV, the manager Joyce described the starlet as “different class” following his seamless transition into the club’s reserve side after his loan spell. Joyce spoke of his exemplary attitude, which will hold him in good stead for the future, after the striker scored the only goal in the U-21 sides’ clash with Sunderland on Monday night.

“Jesse has been different class,” Joyce told MUTV “His attitude has been great, to come back from starring out on loan to playing Under-21 games that he was doing three years ago and also starring in.”

Joyce also praised the youngster for having the knack of doing the right things at the right time. On his performance against the Black Cats, Joyce said “He still does the right things all the time. His work-rate was phenomenal and his decision-making was good plus it was a great goal for the boy again.”

With a mature head on such young shoulders and a glowing review form his coach, the in-form forward can count on being called up to the first-team before too long. But, until he gets his shot at the big-time, you can be sure that the 21-year-old will continue to bang in the goals and help the Under-21 side finish the season on a high.