Lingard's Secret Goals Target

Jesse Lingard has revealed he has a goals target in mind this season after scoring Manchester United’s second goal in the win at Everton – but is keeping his cards close to his chest.

The no.14 now has double figures in all competitions this term as he added to Anthony Martial's opener by curling home a sensational strike for his 10th goal of an already impressive campaign for him on a personal level.

It was Lingard's seventh goal this term in the Premier League, all of which have come since 28 November, and he's clearly enjoying his football but he's keeping the total number of goals he's aiming for under wraps.

Speaking after the New Year's Day victory at Goodison Park, the forward told MUTV: “I have still got a target in mind and I’m working towards that. I just want to assist and score goals to help the team – it’s good for me and that’s my aim.”

When asked if he is willing to disclose the personal target he has set for himself, he joked: “No, it’s secret! But I’m working towards it and I’ll keep working hard to help the team. It’s always good for us to score as attacking players and to help the team get the three points.

“I'm pushing myself and trying to get as many goals as possible this season to help the team to win games.”

The Reds made it a happy start to the new year on Merseyside by returning to winning ways with a confident 2-0 victory over Sam Allardyce’s men. Lingard netted his fifth goal in the last four away league games to seal it late on and he felt it was a deserved three points for the way the Reds took control in the second half.

“I thought we created a few chances in the first half and were dominant, comfortable on the ball and had a lot of freedom and enjoyment so we knew the chances would come in the second half.

“We’ve had a lot of games but we’ve had the spirit to get through the matches. It’s good to start the new year with a win and the travelling fans were great for us again.”

United were without top scorer Romelu Lukaku, who missed his first league game of the season with the head injury he sustained against Southampton, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – but Lingard felt the Reds were able to change the style of play to cope without the two strikers.

He added: “We’ve got the people to adapt to the different systems that we play and Anthony [Martial] has come with the right mentality, grabbed himself a goal and it gave us that confidence and that energy throughout the game.”