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Published 12:15 27 Jan 2019 GMT
Updated 12:28 27 Jan 2019 GMT
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Looking back, part of the reason I felt bitterness towards Lingard in the past must have been because he was given the opportunity and granted the necessary patience to succeed at Old Trafford, while my hero - Wilfried Zaha - was not. I felt aggrieved on Zaha's behalf, perhaps out of naivety, rather than just being happy for Lingard.
But I now sympathise with Lingard's journey to the top. I was also a late bloomer who struggles to gain weight. That was what prevented him from breaking into the United first team until his early 20s, and that's what I feel prevented me from ever playing football at a decent level. He has overcome personal challenges that his critics simply ignore.
I'm no longer one of them. In a world filled with Proper Football Men who look like they might explode every time a footballer dares to enjoy themselves, players like Lingard are vital. They remind us that football is a game - it's meant to be fun.
This weekend, he moonwalked at the Emirates Stadium and reimbursed a group of AFC Wimbledon fans several hundred pounds after missing a penalty on Soccer AM. Anyone who does that must be cherished.
It's taken two years, but I have learned to love Jesse Lingard. If, like me, you were once in the other camp of bitterness and resentment, I urge you to join us on this side. It's much more fun.Sport

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