Jesse Lingard.

Reds kick off new loan moves in style

Thursday 04 February 2021 09:35

Manchester United's loanees made great starts to life at their new clubs in midweek, with Jesse Lingard hitting the headlines with a stellar performance in West Ham United's victory over Aston Villa.

Lingard, who was ineligible for Sunday's defeat to Liverpool, was handed a start by Hammers boss David Moyes and rewarded that faith with a dominant display in the no.10 role.

He crashed two shots past Villa keeper Emilio Martinez in the 3-1 victory, both from Michail Antonio assists, and clearly enjoyed himself throughout.

Moyes said afterwards: "If he keeps playing as well as he did, he will do a brilliant job for West Ham and, if he keeps going like that, then he'll get back into the England squad. I hope he can get back to that standard.

“My biggest concern was not really his all-round fitness, it was his match fitness and sharpness, so that was what I wasn't quite so sure about. I knew he had been working hard at Manchester United and training hard, so I didn't really have a great worry about that. It was just his sharpness because of a lack of minutes really.

“He didn't half show he is in good form, he helped us play better and got two goals so it was a brilliant debut for him tonight.”

Speaking afterwards, the Man of the Match told the Hammers' official website: "I'm coming into my prime years. I'm 28 and I want to be playing week in, week out.

"It has been a great move at the moment and I've got to carry it on. It is always the added bonus to score goals and help the team, but, like I say, it is about getting back out on the pitch and enjoying playing football - playing with a smile on my face."

 

It was not all about Jesse though as James Garner also enjoyed a fine start to life at Nottingham Forest.

The midfielder, who had been on loan at Watford, settled quickly and was voted Man of the Match for an eye-catching display at the heart of the midfield, during a 2-1 victory at Coventry City in the Championship

"I'm really pleased with James," commented Forest boss Chris Hughton. "I think for for a young lad of 19, he showed maturity. Probably what he did show was that this is a lad that's played the first half of the season at a team that's in the top six in the division. He has played and been involved 17 or 18 games and he's had 11 starts. I am pleased for him and I thought his contribution was really good."

If that was not enough, Tahith Chong scored for Club Brugge on his debut for the Belgian side.

The Netherlands Under-21 international, who traded a stint with Werder Bremen for this latest move away from United, took only three minutes to set up Hans Vanaken's opener in the Belgian Cup tie with Olsa Brakel.

He then netted the fifth goal by latching onto a through ball and cleverly dinking the ball over the keeper with his left foot.

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