I Feel More Comfortable Playing For England Than Manchester United – Jesse Lingard

Jesse Lingard, 25, will be part of Gareth Southgate ‘s 23-man squad travelling to Russia following a fruitful season at club level in which he scored 13 goals in 48 games.

Lingard, who has won 10 caps, will be taking part in his first World Cup and, speaking ahead of the friendly against Nigeria on June 2, he admits that playing for the Three Lions makes him feel at ease.

“I actually feel more comfortable when I play for England than United,” Lingard told GQ . “Every game, you’ve got to play with no fear.

“It’s one of the pinnacles of your career as a player and it will be my first World Cup so I’ve got to enjoy every minute, whether I start or if I’ve got to make an impact from the bench.And I do think we will do well because of the team spirit we’ve got.”

While his Manchester United teammate Marcus Rashford made his United and England debuts as a teenager, Lingard has had to be more patient.

He was 21 when he made his first-team debut for United before his first England appearance came two years later.

“I think United always had a plan for me,” Lingard said. “They nurtured me. Sir Alex [Ferguson] said that when I was 23, 24, that’s when I would make it and he was right. I believed in him and trusted him.”