Jesse Lingard is coming under heavy fire at the moment.Manchester United are struggling and Jesse Lingard is one player who is being criticised. Lingard is meant to be a creative player and is expected to get goals for the Red Devils.However, he's failed to do that in the past year.Lingard is yet to score or assist in the whole of 2019.

In the whole of last season he managed just five goals and three assists; a tally which is just not good enough for a United player.

On the back of his poor form, an opinion from Stan Collymore in 2017 has come to light.

Before the Manchester derby back in late 2017, Collymore argued that Lingard was in the same bracket as Man City stars Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane.

He also said that he is as important for Man City as he is for Man United.

"Never did I think I’d put Jesse Lingard in the same bracket as Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane," he wrote in his column for the Mirror.

"But if De Bruyne and Sane are the men most likely to make the ­difference for City this afternoon, then Lingard can be that man for United.

"No-one should underestimate the impact a local lad can have in a derby. They can make you sink or swim.

"They understood the value of these game, the importance of them to the fans. United have two local lads in Lingard and Marcus Rashford and, while Rashford is playing well, Lingard is the man in real form."

Awkward. That looked like a bold shout at the time, but it looks even more ridiculous now.

De Bruyne was one of the best midfielders in the world in 2017.

After a injury plagued campaign last season, he has started off this campaign in ridiculous form.

He's assisted five goals for Man City in their opening four games of the Premier League season, while also scoring against Brighton & Hove Albion.

He then continued that form with his national side, assisting three times and scoring once against Scotland on Monday night.

Lingard, on the other hand, has yet to record an assist or score this season. 

In fact, De Bruyne's three assists in 23 minutes vs Scotland is as many as Lingard has recorded in his last 35 games.

Collymore may regret that column comparing Lingard and De Bruyne two years ago.