Ralf Rangnick says he is considering using Jesse Lingard as a winger
Jesse Lingard says he will give 100 per cent when called upon by Manchester United, despite being told he can have time off and won’t feature tonight.
Staying at United probably was not in Lingard’s plans. He came close to a move in the transfer window but no deal could be struck.
It is down to him to make the best of the situation, and Ralf Rangnick has a plan to get him more involved.
Lingard has only played 89 minutes of Premier League football this season.
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Rangnick told the club website he will consider Lingard as a winger, in addition to simply being a back-up for Bruno Fernandes.
He said: “I think he [Lingard] can play two positions in our formation right now.
‘’It is either as one of the two number eights like Bruno Fernandes, Fred and McTominay [Scott] can play, but he could also play in either of the two wing positions too. Those are personally the two positions I see for Jesse.’’
United are one player lighter on the wing due to Mason Greenwood no longer being considered for selection.
Amad and Facundo Pellistri are on loan, and so Lingard may become the back-up for Jadon Sancho on the right. Juan Mata could be considered there too.
Pogba not a wing option for Rangnick
Paul Pogba returns to action this Friday and Rangnick plans to utilize him as a central midfielder.
While this seems obvious, Pogba was deployed as a left winger under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and it had some success at times, less so at others. Rangnick does not favour the same approach.
He told the club website: “I think his best position is a central midfield position. I don’t see him that much as a winger.
“By saying that, I wouldn’t say he cannot at all play that position. But we have quite a few players for the winger position right now. I see his best possible position as central midfield, if it’s a no.6 or an 8, I have to see. I haven’t seen him play so far. If you ask me right now, probably the no.8 position.”
Rangnick may change his mind, he has shown to be adaptable by ditching his 4-2-2-2 formation, for now at least, and Pogba out wide may happen at some point, simply to fit him in alongside Bruno Fernandes, Fred, and Scott McTominay.
But with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Elanga, Jadon Sancho, and now Jesse Lingard being considered as wingers, and don’t rule out Hannibal either having played the role for the 23s there should be little need for Pogba in the position.
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