Manchester United's development team manager Warren Joyce has insisted that Jesse Lingard has the ability to play in the Premier League.
The 21-year-old has impressed during loan spells in the Championship with Leicester City, Birmingham City and Brighton & Hove Albion, but he is yet to feature for United at senior level in a competitive fixture, which had resulted in reports that he could be sold to a club in the second tier.
However, Joyce believes that the England youth international has all the credentials to make an impression in the top flight.
"Jesse is a very clever footballer who does a lot of the right things. I am sure he can play in the Premier League. I feel for players like that as I want them to do well," Joyce told the club's official website.
"I look at players at other clubs and don't think they're necessarily as good as people like Jesse and Michael (Keane). It's about being fortunate enough to get a chance and then grabbing it with both hands."
Warrington-born Lingard joined United as a trainee back in 2009.
Liam Apicella
