Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper is "sure" that summer signing Jesse Lingard will feature against Valencia in this weekend's final pre-season friendly at Meadow Lane.
The England international has been training with the Reds since the signing was announced last Thursday but was not involved in matches against Union Berlin or Notts County over the last week. After leaving Manchester United at the end of his contract last month, Lingard has missed much of pre-season due to being without a club for over a fortnight.
With his future now settled ahead of the Premier League season, the 29-year-old has been in fine form at the club's Wilford Lane training ground, according to Cooper. The signing is also said to have offered a timely boost ahead of the big kick-off.
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"It shows that we want to be able to compete in the Premier League," Cooper is quoted as saying on the club's official website about Lingard's arrival. "To sign a quality player like Jesse has given everybody a boost.
“He’s been brilliant on the training ground; I think everybody has raised their game a little bit, and I’m sure he’ll feature against Valencia at the weekend.
“I had a very good conversation with Jesse, he had questions for me, and I had questions for him; he’s a really good guy, and we’re really pleased that he’s with us."
Do you think Lingard will be ready to start the Premier League season? Have your say in the comments...
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