Jesse Lingard, for the first time in his career, will be looking to gain regular game time and become the star player for his side. At the age of 29, Lingard has only once played more than the 50% of minutes available in a league campaign, playing 53% of minutes during the 2017/18 season with Manchester United.
In 2021, Lingard went on a loan move to West Ham, where he managed to get 14 goal contributions in 16 appearances, helping guide the Hammers to Europa League football, and only two points off a Champions League spot. That half-season run-out proved his ability to be a difference maker at the top end of the Premier League, and whilst he wasnt trusted when he returned to Old Trafford, it is clear that there is a top player in Jesse Lingard.
Furthermore, there is a World Cup coming up that Lingard will be hoping to be a part of. Having the experience of playing at the previous World Cup, Lingard had the backing from Gareth Southgate who started him in every knockout game, but due to the lack of minutes, Lingard has rarely ever been picked to represent England since. Jesse Lingard will have the next two to three months to remind everyone of his talents, although it is unlikely that it will be enough to secure a place in the World Cup.
Nevertheless, Lingards priority will be to help Nottingham Forest avoid relegation in the upcoming Premier League season. Forest will be in the Premier League for the first time in 23 years, after beating Huddersfield Town in the play-off final. The squad has received major backing, and the owners will be hoping to maintain their status in the Premier League although the task will be extremely difficult.
This scout report will contain an analysis of Lingards spell at West Ham, showing what he is capable of when getting a run of games under his belt. It will also be a tactical analysis of the different ways Lingard will help Forest win games and a look into how Lingard will fit into the tactics used by Steve Cooper.
The Fit at Forest
Last season, Cooper lined Forest up in a 3-5-2 formation, with one attacking midfielder roaming behind two strikers. It is very likely that in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest will be happy to give the opposition time on the ball while setting up in a compact mid-block and trying to counterattack teams with speed and direct attacks in the space left by defenders joining the attack. This could look to be very similar to the style of play David Moyes utilises at West Ham, the system which made the best out of Jesse Lingards best qualities.
Player Profile
The above shows a heat map of Jesse Lingard at West Ham in 2021. He was usually deployed as a left winger in West Hams 3-4-3 and was also comfortable playing on the right wing. As a 10, Lingard will have to be able to operate in central areas, whilst also being comfortable roaming the wide areas to attack any space in behind. Like at West Ham, Forest will usually create chances through direct counterattacks, which will help make the most out of Lingards qualities. Jesse Lingard is intelligent in the movement he has, and is very good at attacking space in behind.
The weaker part of his game is when he faces deep blocks, but that is something that he shouldnt come up against too often.
Direct Dribbling
Jesse Lingard is a ve
