When Manchester United struck in the 95th minute to beat Villarreal at Old Trafford in September it was Cristiano Ronaldo who stole the headlines, hurling his shirt into the sky in front of the Stretford End after his dramatic late winner.
But Ronaldo's divine intervention owed everything to a wonderful assist from Jesse Lingard, showing great awareness and touch to tee up Ronaldo as two Villarreal defenders closed in. It was all the more impressive given Lingard had been on the pitch for five minutes and had little time to get attuned to the pace of a frenetic game.
That moment summed up Lingard's start to the season. He had been unfortunate not to force his way into Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's starting XI, but then he was carving himself a reputation as a super-sub. Only 10 days earlier he'd scored the late winner at West Ham and he'd also come off the bench to score in the 4-1 win against Newcastle.
So it's all the more confusing that Lingard has played just 18 minutes of football for United in the seven weeks since his contribution against Villarreal. He's featured in just two of the seven games since and was an unused substitute in both games against Atalanta as well as in league fixtures against Everton, Liverpool and Manchester City.
All five of those games were fixtures United were chasing in some way and needed inspiration, but despite his impressive cameos in the early weeks of the season, Lingard was overlooked. It makes little sense.
After the chastening Old Trafford defeat to Liverpool, there were hints of substantial changes and the energetic Lingard, who can lift a team's performance if he's on form, was an obvious candidate to come in, but he's had just eight minutes in the three games since then.
The footage of Lingard telling fans "I'm not on the pitch" as he was heckled while warming up against Liverpool went viral, but he might have expected to have got his chance after that. Instead, Solskjaer has stuck with the tried, tested and failing formula.
There might be competition for places in Solskjaer's squad, but Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood have all seen their form drop in recent weeks. Still, Lingard isn't getting a chance, either from the start or from the bench.
Solskjaer's unwavering trust in a core group of players risks creating a two-tier squad. Lingard, Diogo Dalot, Alex Telles and Donny van de Beek have started just seven games between them this season - and none in the Premier League - despite the players they are supposed to be competing with being out of form. It gives the impression that there's nothing those players can do to actually force their way into the side.
Van de Beek got only his second Premier League appearance of the season against Manchester City, but part of that would have been Solskjaer trying to placate an agitated Stretford End, who in calling for the Dutchman were making their displeasure at the situation clear. The sidelining of Van de Beek within months of his £35million arrival from Ajax is one of the stranger episodes of Solskjaer's tenure.
The Norwegian might be able to argue Van de Beek hasn't done enough to warrant a start - although he gets very limited chances - but the same argument won't wash with Lingard. He has done all he can to earn more opportunities but has had so few he lost his place in the England squad this month.
United are crying out for some inspiration, for something different. Lingard can provide that, but at the time he should be most needed at Old Trafford, he's disappeared from view.
