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Jesse Lingard, 24, progressed through Manchester United's academy
He has revealed Sir Alex Ferguson always had high hopes for him
Lingard scored a crucial winner in United's FA Cup final win over Crystal Palace

Published: 06:10 EDT, 12 February 2017 | Updated: 08:45 EDT, 12 February 2017

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After four loan spells in the Championship, Manchester United's Jesse Lingard would have been forgiven for contemplating his long-term future at Old Trafford.

However there proved to be light at the end of the tunnel as Louis van Gaal handed the winger his Premier League debut against Swansea in August 2014.

Lingard is now a first-team regular and former boss Sir Alex Ferguson predicted that the Warrington-born midfielder would be in the first team by the age of 23.

Jesse Lingard (centre, flanked by Daley Blind and Marcus Rashford) is happy to be at United

Lingard (left, pictured in 2015) was loaned out to Derby, Brighton, Leicester and Birmingham

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Lingard said of a conversation with Ferguson: 'United had a pathway for me. Sir Alex said, "Don't worry, 22, 23, that's when you're going to stop growing and start playing" and it happened.'

Lingard learned his trade during loan spells at Leicester, Birmingham, Brighton and Derby before returning to Manchester and he is now delighted to be playing under Jose Mourinho.

He added: 'He's driven. Training has more edge to it. Everyone wants to win, which is what it should be like.

'When you lose a training game you're down all day getting wound up by the other team.'

Lingard helped United win the FA Cup in May 2016 with an extra-time winner over Palace

Sir Alex Ferguson, pictured during United's win against Watford, predicted Lingard's future

Lingard, who scored a crucial FA Cup winner against Crystal Palace in May, has a lot of competition at United with the England international competing with Anthony Martial, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young for a first-team spot.

However, despite being down in the pecking order at the moment, Lingard is focused on becoming an Old Trafford regular.

'Manchester United is a great club,' concludes Lingard. 'You see the history of winning trophies and I want to be a part of it.'