Lingard: Why I Wear Number 14

Jesse Lingard was among the Manchester United stars who helped to launch the club's new adidas away kit for 2017/18 last month. In this recent interview, we asked the England international for his thoughts on football shirts, boots and shin pads but started by quizzing him on the number he has made his own at Old Trafford...

Why did you want the no.14 shirt?
I just think it’s a great number to have. Obviously, [former Arsenal attacker] Thierry Henry had it and he’s a great figure in football. He was a great goalscorer when I was younger. I used to look up to him and watch most of his goals so I think ‘14’ is a good number.

Do you have a preference for short or long sleeves?
I think it depends on the weather. If it’s a bit cold, then long sleeves, but I don’t wear gloves in games, just in training. On hot days, I prefer short sleeves.

Do you change any of your kit at half-time?
I change my undershirt at half-time, and my socks as well.

Have you ever had anything custom made for you?
Only my shin pads. I have a picture of when I was a baby on them and a picture of me as a player now. I don’t think I’ve ever revealed them on the pitch though!

What size boots do you wear and can you tell us about your favourite pair?
Eight-and-a-half. I like the adidas X16 boots I've been wearing. They brought a new colour out, white and lime green, which is really nice.

How many pairs of boots do you get through in a season?
Not that many... adidas send me a lot so I’ve got plenty of spares, either at the Aon Training Complex or in the back of my car. So if anybody wants to come and see me! [laughs] I like to wear the same boots for comfort so when a new version of them comes out, I’ll stick with them. I only wear moulded studs as well.

Do you have anything inscribed on your boots?
Just ‘Lingard 14’ on the side of the boot.

Which kit is your favourite from when you were a young United fan?
I like the one from when Ruud van Nistelrooy scored that great goal against Fulham from the halfway line [in 2003]. That one or the kit where [Cristiano] Ronaldo scored the free-kick against Portsmouth [in 2008].

Do you keep any shirts from your career, either your own or from opposing players?
I did that more when I was younger. I used to do that a lot but I tend to keep my friends’ ones who I play against or people I know now. When I was younger, I’d be a bit in awe of the other players and change shirts with them but now it’s people that I know or speak to on the opposite team. I swapped Tyler [Blackett]’s when he was at Blackpool and I was on loan at Birmingham but we had to pay for them!

Have you any plans with what you’re going to do with the shirts you've got?
I think I’ll just keep them for my own sake, for my memories. Maybe I'll display them somewhere. I’ve got my cup final shirts in frames and had them signed by the other players as well.

Who would you most like to swap shirts with in world football?
[Lionel] Messi, I think, or [Andres] Iniesta.