Jesse Lingard

Goals galore for United's internationals

Monday 06 September 2021 09:27

Manchester United players have scored seven goals so far in the September international break, with two Reds hitting doubles in World Cup qualification.

Jesse Lingard is the most recent player to make headlines, the Englishman scoring in both halves as the Three Lions cruised to a 4-0 win against Andorra on Sunday night.

The 28-year-old scored his first with an assured touch and finish from a loose clearance, his second with a low shot into the far corner.

Both goals were assisted by Bukayo Saka on his 20th birthday. And although a late shot was blocked to deny Lingard a brilliant hat-trick, he turned provider for Saka as he assisted the young Arsenal winger's goal, England's fourth.

Maguire has also been amongst the goals for England.

England have scored eight goals in their two games so far against Hungary and Andorra. As well as Lingard’s double, United skipper Harry Maguire has found the back of the net, heading home from a Luke Shaw cross in the 4-0 victory in Budapest.

Elsewhere in Europe, Cristiano Ronaldo became the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s international football with a late brace against the Republic of Ireland. The Portugal captain has since arrived in England following the completion of his move to United and he will train with our squad for the first time in the coming days.

Still with the Portugal squad is Bruno Fernandes, who came off the bench to score a penalty as the Selecao beat Qatar 3-1 in a friendly. He could feature as they come up against Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday night.

Last but not least, Anthony Martial returned to the goals for France, equalising for Les Bleus against Ukraine with a second-half close-range volley. His first international goal for five years, it’s a good moment for the forward after five months out with injury this year.

 "It's been a long time since I had not scored, so it does me a lot of good," Martial told L'Equipe.

Martial celebrates with United team-mate Paul Pogba.

There are plenty more opportunities for Reds to get themselves on the scoresheet. France (Martial, Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane) play again on Tuesday, as do Portugal (Fernandes).

England (Lingard, Maguire and Shaw) are in action on Wednesday while Sweden, captained by Victor Lindelof, and Wales, with Dylan Levitt potentially starting in midfield, play on the same evening. Also in action will be Spain but United’s only representative in that squad, David De Gea, will be more interested in stopping goals than scoring them should he be given his first outing in this period.

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