Manchester United starlet Jesse Lingard has revealed that club legend Ryan Giggs is his Old Trafford hero.
21-year-old Lingard - an attacking midfielder who has gained international recognition with the England U21s - is yet to make a first team appearance for the Premier League champions, yet has left fans in no doubt as to the player he would most like to emulate.
"Growing up at United, Ryan Giggs is my hero," Lingard was quoted by Sky Sports.
"He is one of those flair players that excites fans. I like players who run at people and dribbling is one of my main attributes. People love to see it, you have to get the supporters out of their seats."
Lingard joined Manchester United in 2009 and while he is evidently yet to make a real impact on the first-team squad, it is clear that he has ambitions of succeeding with David Moyes' side after he returns from a loan spell in the Championship with promotion-chasing Brighton.
"I'll go back to Old Trafford with sky-high confidence. Players out on loan have got to keep playing our own game and see where it takes us."
Quite whether he has what it takes to firmly establish himself as a viable option at Old Trafford with Moyes expected to be handed significant funds to lavish on new recruits this summer remains to be seen.
However, Lingard has mostly impressed this season during spells at the Amex Stadium and indeed previously at St. Andrew's with Birmingham City.
Having notched six goals in 13 appearances - including a four-goal haul on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday - with the latter, Lingard has scored on two further occasions for Brighton as Oscar Garcia's men look to secure a playoff berth.
Helping a side to win promotion to the top-flight could certainly boost his credentials at Manchester United, one would have thought.
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