Former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Glenn Hoddle has singled out Jesse Lingard for praise after some superb performances since his arrival at West Ham.

The 28-year-old has scored five goals and provided three assists in just seven appearances for the Hammers, and Hoddle says that when he missed the game against Manchester United, his absence was keenly felt:

“I think Lingard is one that’s really come on. He scored a really good goal again [versus Arsenal], and he’s playing exceedingly well. West Ham, you saw them come out of the game against United because he couldn’t play, because he’s on loan from there. And West Ham weren’t the same team without him”

Nobody expected Lingard to make such a strong start to his loan spell at West Ham. The forward looks like he has something to prove, after being frozen out at Old Trafford in the first half of the season.

He is certainly silencing the critics with a series of top drawer displays, and he was fully deserving of his call-up to the England squad.

It will be hoped that Lingard can now keep this form up between now and the end of the season, helping to spearhead the Irons’ charge to finish in the European places.