Dream Jesse Lingard debut highlights how important he could be for West Ham

As Jesse Lingard prepared to make his debut for West Ham, not even he could have expected his Premier League return to go so well.

He had, after all, not featured in the top flight during 2020/21, and had been restricted to just 179 minutes of Manchester United action in domestic cup competitions.

But none of that seemed to matter a jot as Lingard, picked from the start against Aston Villa, scored twice and put in a performance of supreme energy and quality to help fire David Moyes' impressive Hammers to a 3-1 win at Villa Park.

Lingard didn't look like a player who'd been frozen out of his parent club, in desperate need of a move to new surroundings, nor did he look like a player low on confidence. He also didn't look like a player with six months worth of ring rust.

Instead, Lingard looked completely at ease, like he'd never been away and, more than anything else, just looked happy to be out on the field playing football again.

The celebrations for both of his debut goals - dance moves included - were full of love and support from his new teammates, showing genuine happiness that he'd come in and hit the ground running. Furthermore, his immediate chemistry with his teammates was evident in his play, and a real indicator that this loan spell at West Ham may be the perfect shot in the arm to reinvigorate his previously stalling career.

In terms of first game tests, Aston Villa are no slouches - they've shown as much this season with some outstanding performances. But for Lingard, it was a test that he passed with flying colours.

From the outset, there were hugely positive signs in his link up play with Michail Antonio, and while it would be a stretch to say they had an instantly telepathic understanding, it became increasingly clear over the course of 90 minutes that they understood each other's roles and how to manipulate Villa's defence around to make space.

The same can be said for Lingard's connection with Algerian playmaker Said Benrahma, who through absolutely no coincidence whatsoever put in the best performance of his short West Ham career.

Interchanging neatly with each other, the duo helped draw Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash out of position time and time again, allowing one another to scamper in behind - when the opportunity presented itself - or allow Aaron Cresswell to maraud forward and overlap.

There was also neatness and simplicity in the way Lingard combined with deeper lying midfielders Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek, and an effortless ease in the way he sauntered between the lines to find space.

"If he keeps playing as well as he did he will do a brilliant job for West Ham and if he keeps going like that then he'll get back into the England squad. I hope he can get back to that standard."

- David Moyes

It was, for all intents and purposes, the perfect debut, and one that demonstrated that Lingard is not just an active social media presence who likes a bit of a laugh and dance, he's a footballer of real intelligence and one who deserves to regularly be strutting his stuff in the Premier League.

His dedication to maintaining his fitness levels at Manchester United, even though he's barely been playing, showed how professional he is, and speak volumes for both his character and why Hammers boss David Moyes vouched for him and wanted to bring him to the London Stadium - even if that meant the club didn't pursue other striker targets.

Granted, it would be remiss to get overly hyperbolic about how Lingard could influence further positive change at West Ham, but it would also be remiss not to celebrate and recognise how good he was on this particular night.

He could even be the difference maker as West Ham lead an unlikely charge towards Europe; a charge that can only be strengthened by having high-calibre players like Jesse Lingard.

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