How Lingard has pushed Maddison to the brink of Euro 2020 England heartbreak
Jesse Lingard has been a revelation since joining West Ham on loan from Manchester United in January. After such a miserable spell on and off the pitch for more than a year, it would have been so easy to lose motivation and discipline. Yet Lingard stayed ready, working hard behind the scenes to make sure he was in the best shape possible for when an opportunity finally presented itself.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told David Moyes exactly that as part of a glowing report upon his move down south. Despite finding it impossible to give Lingard even a sniff of first-team action, Solskjaer was still hesitant to sanction his loan move but it has benefitted everyone concerned. Not only is Lingard spearheading West Ham’s unlikely push for Champions League football, he has timed his return to form to perfection with Euro 2020 fast approaching. His stock has never been higher.
Lingard was a key performer for Gareth Southgate at the 2018 World Cup, starting all five matches up until elimination at the quarter-final stage. Things quickly soured for Lingard thereafter. He lost form for United and Bruno Fernandes' arrival at the start of 2020 kicked him to the curb. No one had Lingard in contention for Euro 2020 at the start of the season. With so much talent coming through, it would have been fair to assume his England career was over. It has been a long road back for Lingard but his exceptional start at life at West Ham culminated in an England call-up for last month’s triple header. Dele Alli must be looking on wondering what could have been had Tottenham not blocked his departure in the same window.
Lingard’s recall was perhaps fortuitous. Injuries to Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish and James Maddison left a hole, while neither Marcus Rashford nor Bukayo Saka could fulfil their spots. It was Lingard’s first call-up since June 2019. Having missed the last 14 internationals in a row, he was desperate to ensure it was not a one-off. Lingard had 10 shots against San Marino in England’s opening qualifier for the 2022 World Cup but failed to score. Most would have been frustrated, fretting whether they'd just blown their opportunity. But not Lingard. He even afforded a joke with the San Marino goalkeeper afterwards, claiming he only saved his attempts and let in the others. "Hey, that's football," Lingard told onlooking cameras. He was limited to substitute appearances in England’s next two qualifiers but had reportedly done enough in and around camp to remind Southgate what he offers.
For now, at least, Lingard’s focus will be finishing the season strongly with West Ham. Without a buy-out clause in his loan deal, United hold all the cards over his future. The Hammers will throw everything at making his switch permanent but will only pay so much. Staying at United has not been completely ruled out, either.
West Ham are currently fourth in the Premier League. David Moyes’ side are 13 points better off than their entire total from last season and they still have eight games to play. They are the best ranked side in London, even 10 points ahead of Arsenal. Most had tipped West Ham for relegation at the start of the season.
On Sunday they welcome third place Leicester and a win over the Foxes would cut the gap to just one point. Without Declan Rice and potentially Michail Antonio, the task is that bit more difficult. One battle of particular interest will be Lingard up against Maddison. Not just pushing their clubs for Europe, but it is likely only one will go to the Euros this summer. Maddison has enjoyed another season of progress but injuries, coupled with Lingard’s resurgence, have struck at the worst possible time.
Maddison has not started any of Leicester’s last eight matches. That should change on Sunday and the 24-year-old needs a big performance to offer a reminder of what he can offer. Staying injury free from now until the end of the season is so important for Maddison, but even that might not be enough, with no more international breaks to catch Southgate’s eye before he announces his squad for the Euros.
It has been a stop-start campaign for Maddison, limited to just 18 starts in the Premier League. The 24-year-old has notably still scored or assisted 13 goals in that time, averaging a direct goal contribution every 126 minutes. Both Grealish and Foden will likely push for top individual honours at the end of the season but Maddison is not far off them in terms of output. Grealish is playing a direct hand in a league goal every 123.6 minutes this season and Foden’s chipping in every 122 minutes.
Lingard, meanwhile, is currently averaging a goal or an assist every 78.9 minutes of league action for West Ham. He already has as many league goals as Foden and Grealish despite not making his first appearance of the campaign until February. Lingard is clearly relishing the spotlight at the London Stadium. No longer a small fish in a bid pond, it's evident Lingard is flourishing as an established name dropping down from an elite club to a smaller side. He even tried to wrestle a penalty off Declan Rice against Sheffield United before eventually taking one against Leeds. Typically, he missed before scoring the rebound. It sums up the way things are going for him at present.
West Ham have proved the perfect platform for Lingard to get back to his best. It's simple, but the fact Lingard has more space to run in to playing for West Ham is helping his qualities shine. Sides facing United naturally keep things tight at the back, with plenty of bodies in the areas Lingard takes up. Even though West Ham are flying high in the table, it is generally not the case in their games and Lingard has taken full advantage. He has scored or assisted in five straight games for the Hammers, a run that includes matches against Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal.
For the first time in a long time, England’s squad is brimming with quality in attack. High profile names are going to be left at home this summer when in previous years they would have gone to major tournaments without question. As things stand Maddison will be one of those unlucky to miss out, with his adversary this weekend, Lingard, the one set to keep him out.
