Jesse Lingard needed just four minutes to boost his chances of finding new club

12 October 2023 , 07:41

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Jesse Lingard is still searching for a new club after leaving Nottingham Forest (Image: Getty Images)

Jesse Lingard has played in a friendly for Al-Ettifaq - needing just four minutes to score as he eyes a contract with the Saudi club.

The former Manchester United star is currently in the Middle East on a training contract but is looking for a more permanent stay at Steven Gerrard's side - doing his chances no harm by scoring against Al-Khaldiya. Lingard left Nottingham Forest in the summer and is now on the lookout for his next outfit, which looks to be away from the Premier League.

Lingard could join up with compatriots Jordan Henderson and Demarai Gray, who've both opted for lucrative moves to the Saudi Pro League. He had been training with West Ham, but a return to East London didn't materialise despite a productive spell with the Hammers.

David Moyes had been able to get Lingard playing arguably the best football of his career and there had been talk of the pair rekindling with the Hammers boss determined to get him time to find his fitness after a disrupted pre-season.

He said: “I have to say, when Jesse joined us two years ago I think he scored nine goals in 15 games and was probably the difference between us getting into Europe for the first time.

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"I want to give him every opportunity to get himself back in condition and see how he does. So there’s no real update on it at the moment, just to say that he’s back and getting much closer to the levels of fitness where you’d hope he would be.”

However, the two parties failed to reach an agreement, ending his trial period at the club last month. The England international had previously turned down the Hammers when he opted to join Forest last summer.

Jesse Lingard scored in a friendly as he eyes a permanent deal (@Ettifaq)

His future at Old Trafford looked bleak after a year warming the bench under several different managers. It became apparent that his career lie away from Manchester and he took up a one-year deal with the Premier League new boys, who remained in the top flight.

He scored twice in 20 outings for Forest last term in what was an underwhelming campaign. His most productive season to date remains his 2017/18 season in Manchester when he scored on 13 occasions - the only time in his career that he's hit double figures.

Samuel Meade