Jesse Lingard

The moment Ole knew Jesse could make it

Friday 21 December 2018 13:50

During Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first interview with MUTV since returning to Manchester United as caretaker manager, he spoke about working previously with Jesse Lingard.

The England international midfielder, who scored his second United goal of the season in the game against Liverpool, came through the ranks at the club.

Back on 29 April 2010, the Reds' Reserves team, coached by Ole and Warren Joyce, took on Burnley in the last fixture of the main season. Lingard, then 17, was one of the youngsters blooded for his debut at that level and a single moment from the victory still sticks in Solskjaer's mind. 

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"I remember I gave Jesse Lingard his debut in the Reserves - away to Burnley," Ole told MUTV. "The youth team had just played a game the day before and he didn't play for the youth team, so he played in the Reserves against Burnley. Within two minutes, that little tiny kid goes into a 50-50 with a massive 6ft 5in centre-back - who is now playing at Burnley as well, Kevin Long - and I remember it still, he absolutely clatters him!

"That little kid, there was no fear in him. I thought 'you've got a chance'. Kevin Long had to come off, unfortunately, but Jesse showed me there that he is something." 

MUTV have managed to delve into the archives to find the exact footage Ole was recalling as a youthful-looking Lingard does not pull out of a crunching challenge with Long during the 1-0 victory, with Larnell Cole scoring the goal.

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