Jesse Lingard is the 'English Andres Iniesta,' says former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen

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Jesse Lingard is the “English Andres Iniesta” of the Premier League, according to former Manchester United youth and first-team coach Rene Meulensteen.

The 25-year-old has enjoyed an impressive upturn in form this season, having scored 11 goals in 29 matches since August of last year.

After drifting in and out of the United’s first team since making his debut in the 2014/15 campaign, Lingard is now a key player in Jose Mourinho’s starting XI.

And Meulensteen, who oversaw much of Lingard’s development as a United youth player, believes the forward has the abilities to ‘comfortably fit in’ at Barcelona.

“I saw so many similarities in their games, and I always believed that Jesse was the English Andres Iniesta,” Meulensteen told Bleacher Report.

“Like Iniesta, he finds these pockets of space, he is always on the move and has very good feet. The only thing missing until recently was goals, but now Jesse is scoring important goals too.

“In my opinion, you could fly Jesse to Barcelona, let him play in Iniesta's position, and he would comfortably be able to do it and fit in. And he does it in the Premier League, which is more difficult than La Liga, so that is a credit to Jesse.”