FOOTBALL UPDATE

Lingard is competing for a place in Southgate's starting line-up at the World Cup and he has been handed an opportunity to impress at Wembley this weekend. With only two friendlies before England kick off their World Cup campaign in Russia, Lingard is battling with Tottenham's Dele Alli and Manchester City's Raheem Sterling to fill the roles as support for star striker Harry Kane. Lingard had an inconsistent season with United, but Southgate is a fan of the 25-year-old. England boss Southgate told a press conference on Friday that Lingard will face Nigeria, insisting he hadn't made up his mind who will feature when his team face Tunisia in the World Cup opener on June 18. "I don't see it as a straight contest between any individual, absolutely they could play together," Southgate said. "All of our attacking players have different attributes or strengths. "Jesse is a fantastic player at recognising the space, working away from the bal...

Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera,Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku were United so seal their place in the draw for the FA Cup fifth round as they eased past Yeovil Town on Friday night. The main talking point going into the game was a debut for Alexis Sanchez after he completed his move from Arsenal on Monday. The Chilean lined up on the left of an attacking three alongside Marcus Rashford and Juan Mata and fizzed around, looking busy if not at his incisive best on his United debut. Yeovil started the game well and had the first chance of the tie as Jordan Green burst through the United rearguard after being found by Sam Surridge out on the left but the former Fulham trainee’s low effort was blocked away by Sergio Romero. Green was involved again as Yeovil went close with 15 minutes gone. The winger was brought down by Matteo Darmian and from the ensuing free kick Omar Sowunmi should have done better, managing only to head straight at Romero after escaping the attentions of Luke...

The New Year's Day win lifted United back into second place in the table, above Chelsea and, for 24 hours at least, to within 12 points of runaway Premier League leaders Manchester Cit y. Martial capped a spell of United pressure early in the second half by shooting his side in front after Paul Pogba had found him in space 20 yards from goal. The striker took a controlling touch before producing a brilliant right-foot finish that flew into the top right corner of the Everton goal. It was a much-improved second half showing from United and one capped by a superb individual goal from Lingard that settled the outcome 10 minutes from time.  After Luke Shaw won possession from an Everton throw-in, Pogba slipped through a pass which Lingard accepted, weaving his way through the midfield to the edge of the area before depositing an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner. Everton, seeking to bounce back from the first defeat of Sam Allardyce's reign, had made a promising st...