In a different set of circumstances, the form exhibited by Jesse Lingard for West Ham last season could have had Manchester United linked with a transfer.
Instead, the England international is back at Old Trafford surrounded by uncertainty with few knowing what his future holds at his boyhood club.
Speaking at the start of pre-season, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed Lingard will stick around and battle for a recall to United’s line-up.
"Jesse has come back, been bright, he wants to fight for his place,” he told MUTV after their pre-season opener against Derby.
"We lacked some options at times [last season]. Jesse is in the plans at the moment.”
But, with the season less than two weeks away, it remains to be seen to what extent Lingard will feature.
The arrival of Jadon Sancho has added another attacking option, whilst Donny van de Beek is bulked up and eyeing a big year in support of Bruno Fernandes as an attacking midfield option.
The question remains where does Lingard fit into the side - and his form last season makes his case a particularly curious one.
As the season drew to a close, team-mate Bruno Fernandes claimed that Lingard had, at one stage, been the “best player in the Premier League ” whilst with the Hammers.
Fernandes said at the end of last season: "If you see Jesse, I think Jesse, at the moment, if you watch the last 10 games, has been top, top, top level.
"For me, if you watch the last 10 games, he's been the best player in the Premier League, scoring and assists in every game.
"Everyone here is really, really happy for him. He has confidence back, he has his swag back, because he is feeling confident. We are really, really happy for what he's doing.”
There is no doubt that United would be keen to find a role for the player who lit up the Premier League in claret and blue.
But rather than walking back into the team, he arrives with question marks still hanging over whether those performances can be replicated under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Does Jesse Lingard have a future at Manchester United? Comment below.
With no clear opening in the starting line-up for Lingard to slot into, it is unclear how or where he will be utilised in a new-look United setup.
Reflecting on his loan at the London Stadium, Lingard told United’s official website: "Yeah, it was a great time. It was like hitting the refresh button.
“I was always ready to hit the ground running and I was always fit and ready to play.
"I played every game since I got there and when you play a run of games like that you get a bit of confidence.”
Lingard’s form in London came at a time when his future at United looked dead and buried.
With the “refresh button” pressed, he has now been granted a second chance to prove he has a future at Old Trafford.
It remains unclear how his situation will play out when the season resumes.
If United are not the team to benefit from the player who stepped up towards the back end of last season, then plenty of other clubs are on hand who would be happy to offer him the same platform to perform.
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