How Manchester United's Jesse Lingard Can Live Up to Andres Iniesta Billing

When former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen described Jesse Lingard as "the English version of [Andres] Iniesta" it seemed far-fetched.

Speaking to United Review, the club's programme ahead of the PSV Eindhoven game, Meulensteen said: "He has still got a long way to go but that is the sort of player I see in him."

The "long way to go" caveat is important. Iniesta is one of the true greats of his generation, with a trophy haul befitting his ability. He has won seven Liga titles, three Copa del Rey titles and a remarkable four Champions League finals with Barcelona—something just 18 other players can equal or improve upon.

With Spain, of course, he has won two European Championships and a World Cup, in which he scored the extra-time winner in the final.

Bernat Armangue/Associated Press

Lingard's trophy haul thus far is limited the 2010/11 FA Youth Cup. Of course, the two players are at different ends of their career. Iniesta has been so successful that achieving half of what he has done would represent triumph beyond most players' wildest dreams.

Meulensteen's comparison is meant as a technical one. In United Review, he says of his former charge, "He's bright, he's light-footed, he's got great ability and skill." He goes on to say he encouraged the youngster to watch as many clips of Iniesta in action as he could.

Lingard is living up to his billing in one particular statistic—he is using the ball extremely well in the final third. His pass completion in that area is the best in the Premier League, per Dave O'Brien of Squawka on Twitter.

Meulensteen also addressed the issue of Lingard's size, saying "it doesn't make a difference if you have a quick brain, quick feet and a big heart, and Jesse has all of those."

So far during his time in the first team, he has not exactly had an Iniesta-like impact. Indeed, the most important work he has done for United's attack has been to stretch opposition defences by running in behind their full-backs and running directly at them with the ball at his feet.

The killer through balls that are synonymous with Iniesta have not emerged. The Barcelona man averages 1.8 key passes per game in La Liga so far this season; Lingard is averaging 0.6 per game in the league.

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

That killer delivery is something Lingard will have to develop, although in the youngster's defence, the lack of movement in United's attack makes creating chances a challenge.

He will also need to improve his finishing, particularly in moments when his side are relying on it to get a result. Against PSV on Wednesday, Lingard had four shots, getting just one on target.

At least a couple of those shots were presentable chances, and given that opportunities have been relatively hard to come by at Old Trafford of late, clinical finishing is a must-have.

Coming up with the goods when your side needs it most is a hallmark of Iniesta's career. He has won man-of-the-match awards in the finals of the World Cup, European Championships and the Champions League, per MailOnline.

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Those kinds of performances rely on composure and confidence, something that grows over time, and in order to get there, Lingard will have to be exposed to a great deal more first-team action.

For now, the youngster gets a pass on most criticisms around consistency because he is so inexperienced at the top level—this season is the first time he has been significantly involved.

To grow into anything like the player Iniesta has become, Lingard will need to work hard on the playmaking side of his game, and perhaps he needs to be deployed in a more central creative role. He will have to develop his composure.

And, of course, he will have to go from promising youngster to bona fide great of the game. That is a very long road to walk. Whether he has the potential to do it is unclear, let alone whether he will be able to live up to the potential if it does exist.

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Ultimately, though, it does not matter. Lingard does not have to become Iniesta—that is an unreasonable bar to set any young player. For United fans, having a local lad breaking through at Old Trafford again is good enough.

If he goes on to become a world-beater that will, of course, be wonderful. For now, though, the achievement of getting into the first team is worthy of celebration.

After all, coming through the academy at one of the world's great clubs and making it to the first team is something he already has in common with Andres Iniesta. Whether he can add to the commonalities remains to be seen.

Advanced statistics per WhoScored.com except where otherwise stated.