The winter signing Mourinho needed

"Jesse Lingard is going to be some player," Sir Alex Ferguson said back in 2012. Somewhat prophetic, but he has been talked of in terms of potential for too long now. Lingard deserves some long-overdue credit.

The January transfer window may be open, but Jose Mourinho will not have to scour a market for a forward. With Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic sidelined through injury, Jesse Lingard has taken the limelight and was once again at the centre of the action in the 2-0 win at Everton, scoring a screamer and linking up with Paul Pogba as United started the year in style.

The 25-year-old has scored seven Premier League goals in just nine appearances, more than Dele Alli, Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Sadio Mane, Leroy Sane and Christian Eriksen this season. Lingard has forced himself into the team after sitting on the bench until late October, but take away Lingard's contribution since the end of November and the Red Devils would be eight points worse off and out of the Champions League places.

In the midst of one of the trickiest spells of Mourinho's tenure at Old Trafford, not just in terms of results but also form, Lingard has risen to the occasion and made the difference. His performances in what promises to be a testing January will hold the key to defining United's season.

As well as finding the back of the net, the England international gets involved in building up play. He is essential when going forward and has made four assists for his teammates. Lingard has given Jose Mourinho good reason to trust him, after showing flashes of talent in previous seasons, he is finally  proving his pedigree as a United player.

"These boys, they jump or they don't jump," said Jose Mourinho. "One thing is to be a young talent, another is to be a very good player," said Mourinho. Lingard has certainly taken the leap. As it is, he is no longer just United's future, but also their present.