Jesse Lingard could easily have been returning to Old Trafford in a black-and-white shirt and showing the Stretford End exactly what they are missing this weekend with Newcastle United.
Instead, he will watch on from home as a Nottingham Forest player who can't get into Steve Cooper's team after the Welshmen signed an army of new players this summer. Eddie Howe took the rare step of going public on his admiration for Lingard earlier this year after trying to sign him in January.
Back then Howe said: "Jesse Lingard is a player I have always admired. And that's probably the best thing to say."
