Jesse Lingard was recalled to the Manchester United team to face Chelsea, but failed to deliver.
United won the game 2-1, and did so despite another poor performance from the out of form attacker.
Lingard provided an assist in the previous round against Rochdale, his only goal contribution of the season so far. He did not look close to influencing the game last night at Stamford Bridge.
He had one shot at goal, and he was substituted on 66 minutes as United begun to lose grip on the game.
Replaceable
Like Sergio Romero and Brandon Williams, Lingard was one of the players rotated into the side after starting on the bench at the weekend.
He has lost his place in the Premier League to Andreas Pereira, who has seized his opportunities against Liverpool and Norwich.
Pereira created six chances in those two games. Lingard didn’t manage any key passes last night.
United sent Pereira on against Chelsea for the final 24 minutes as we pushed forward, in a double change to also bring on Anthony Martial.
He created one chance, underlining that he brings more to the side at present than Lingard, as United went on to win the game 2-1.
Needed a response
United were forced into the change against Liverpool to switch to Pereira due to Lingard’s injury against Alkmaar.
He didn’t do much when he was brought back in against Partizan last week, he was solid, nothing more. He was a late substitute against Norwich, and then last night versus Chelsea, we saw little to be encouraged about.
Instead of returning fired up about losing his place, Lingard is back stuck in the same poor run of form he was before his injury.
Juan Mata is out of favour at the moment due to his poor form, and Lingard is heading that way too. He’s back to being a squad player, which is probably where he should be, but it would be nice for him to state his case and make a fight of it.
Pereira is the man right now for the attacking midfield role, until one of his challengers can prove him otherwise.
It might be that Angel Gomes rises up and stakes a claim soon. His chances will come.
Lingard wasted one last night, and it is hard to keep handing him opportunities at Gomes’ expense when the squad is rotated, if he is not going to do anything with them.
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