Speaking on the Premier League’s YouTube channel, Declan Rice has shared that some of West Ham’s players underestimated Jesse Lingard when he joined the club.
Lingard has obviously proven himself to be one of the Hammers’ most important players since coming in, hitting a great run of goalscoring form since joining the club.
While Rice says that he knew how good he was, he claims that some of West Ham’s players weren’t aware of how talented in the midfielder is.
“He’s been a massive impact. He’s taken us up another level, we knew his qualities before he’d come and how good he was. I don’t think a few of the players knew how good he was, until they started to train and play with him, and he’s scored four goals in six now, so we need to keep him on a good run until the end,” Rice said.
If they didn’t know how good Lingard was, they certainly know now.
Lingard has arguably been West Ham’s most important player since joining the club, and while he has faltered at Manchester United in recent times, he’s shown why he’s a fully-fledged England international since joining West Ham.
The London club are still chasing a spot in the top four, and if they are to get that, we have to imagine that Lingard will be at the heart of their efforts.
The wider footballing world is seemingly finally waking up to just how talented Lingard is.
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