Jesse Lingard joined West Ham United on loan in January very much a forgotten man.
He had made just three Manchester United appearances all season, had not appeared for England since 2019 and had only one Premier League goal to his name since December 2018.
What a transformation. The 28-year-old’s two goals in the Hammers’ 3-2 win against Leicester continued his remarkable form that has seen him become one of the form players in Europe.
Is he about to fire West Ham into the Champions League? And has he earned himself a starting slot for England in the summer’s European Championship?
Lingard’s instant impact in Champions League push
West Ham were already sitting on the cusp of the top four when they signed Lingard but his form has helped establish the Hammers as genuine Champions League contenders.
The Warrington-born forward has scored eight goals in nine Premier League games, equalling his previous best tally for a season – eight in 33 games in 2017-18. West Ham have won six of those nine games and lost just one, against leaders Manchester City, to sit fourth with seven games left.
