1 month ago
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Jesse Lingard has missed out a return to Old Trafford after injuring himself in the warm-up ahead of Nottingham Forest's clash with Manchester United.
The former United attacker was set to start for Forest in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against his old side, but was forced to pull out of the team just minutes from kick-off and was replaced by Emmanuel Dennis.
It is the second time that injury has put a halt to a return to his old stomping ground, after he was substituted in the Premier League fixture between the sides earlier in the season.
The injury is another blow for Lingard who has suffered a stuttering start to his career at the City Ground after signing for the club on a much-talked-about free transfer last summer.
Former Red Devils coach Rene Meulensteen was watching the game on BBC Radio 5 Live and could sympathise with the 30-year-old's frustration.
Jesse Lingard was injured in the warm-up ahead of Forest's semi-final second leg against his old team Man Utd
Meulensteen said: 'Jesse Lingard must have been looking forward to this game so much - to leave a good impression and to help Nottingham Forest to get a good performance.'
The attacking midfielder was seen working with a Forest trainer on the Old Trafford turf ahead of the game, but seem to wince as he stretched and was quickly removed from the starting eleven.
Lingard has enjoyed a more successful run in Forest's Carabao Cup campaign, scoring his only two goals for the club in the competition and providing two assists in just the three games he's appeared in.
Lingard's best performances this season have been saved for Forest's Carabao Cup run
It's the second time this season that injury has put a halt to Lingard's Man United return
It's a stark contrast to his Premier League form, where he's failed to find the net in fourteen appearances for the club and has struggled to find a consistent run in Steve Cooper's line-up.
Speaking before he pulled out of the game, former Nottingham Forest player Roy Keane was asked about Lingard and he believes that the England international is running out of excuses as to why it's not worked out for him so far at the club.
'Jesse was one of the first in the door, there was a lot of criticism about why he signed and the length of his contract, but he's got to go out and perform'. Keane told Sky Sports.
'He's not really got going at Forest and that comes down to the player. Almost no more excuses, Jesse's had plenty of excuses over the years.'
Forest face an uphill battle to make the Carabao Cup Final, after being swept away by United in the first leg and trail 3-0 in the tie.
