Erik ten Hag expects Jesse Lingard to receive a warm welcome from the Old Trafford faithful when he returns to Manchester United for the first time.
Lingard joined United at the age of seven and spent the next 22 years with the club before leaving as a free agent in the summer. The forward joined newly promoted Forest and will come up against his old club for the first time on Tuesday as the two sides meet for the first time since 1999 - the year before Lingard first joined the academy.
Forest are struggling near the bottom of the table but have only lost one of their last five league matches and defeated Blackburn 4-1 in the Carabao Cup in their return to action last week.
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Ten Hag expects Lingard will be shown gratitude by United supporters for his efforts at the club. He told United's in-house media: ''I think the Manchester United fans always show respect for the opponent so definitely when a former player is coming in, they will show that respect.
"They will value the things he did, the good things he did for Manchester United, but from minute one it’s about winning this duel. So, we will go into the fight, and I expect fans of Manchester United will support our team.''
Ten Hag also revealed he is happy to see a historic club like Forest back in the top division. ''Oh yeah. I think it’s great," he said. "I think it was 1979 and ’80 [when they won the European Cup], a great team. The man is mental, Brian Clough. I remember the song [We’ve Got the Whole Word in Our Hands]. Everyone remembers the song that they had in that time.
"So, it’s great that such big traditional clubs are back in the Premier League. Because it is a traditional club, I like such club. What is really a club from the crowd, the audience, the atmosphere in the stadium must be great. One time I had the pleasure to play there, so I have already had the experience there. So, it’s good for the Premier League that they are back.''
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