Versatile Man Utd wideman’s withdrawal prompts Wolves whispers

Manchester United are yet to give an explanation as to why Jesse Lingard was pulled from an Under-21 fixture with Fulham, leaving plenty of armchair Jim White-wannabes to try and fill in the blanks.

Considering the 22-year-old made the Red Devils’ bench for the 2-0 FA Cup third-round win at Yeovil, it is possible Lingard will be in Louis van Gaal’s squad at home to Cambridge United in the same competition.

However, Wolves boss Kenny Jackett felt the need to play down talk of acquiring the wing-back/wide-forward on loan at the start of the weekend, so his withdrawal from the clash with the Cottagers’ youths has reawakened a corner of the rumour mill.

Wigan has also been touted as a potential temporary home for the Warrington wideman, who started Van Gaal’s first match in charge of United at wing-back against Swansea in August, but hobbled off the Old Trafford pitch after just 24 minutes, missing the next 16 games through injury.

Lingard spent the first half of last season at Birmingham, where he scored all four of the Blues’ goals in a 4-1 debut win over Sheffield Wednesday, and notched four strikes in 17 appearances, which included the Championship playoffs, for Brighton between February and May 2014.

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