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Jesse Lingard 'English Andres Iniesta' - ex-Man United coach Meulensteen

Former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen has described Jesse Lingard as "the English version of Andres Iniesta" following the Old Trafford youngster's impressive form this season.

Lingard, 22, has made the step up to Louis van Gaal's starting XI in recent weeks, setting up Wayne Rooney's Champions League winner against CSKA Moscow on Nov. 3 before scoring his debut goal for the club against West Brom four days later.

The midfielder missed two presentable chances in United's 2-1 win at Watford on Saturday, but Meulensteen -- who coached Lingard as part of Sir Alex Ferguson's staff -- says the youngster is similar to Barcelona star Iniesta.

"I see him as the English version of Iniesta," Meulensteen told United Review. "He has still got a long way to go but that is the sort of player I see in him."

Lingard, who has made three Premier League starts in his United career, received his first full England call-up as an unused substitute against France last Tuesday.

Iniesta, meanwhile, shone in the Liga leaders' 4-0 Clasico thrashing of Real Madrid on Saturday, scoring a goal, creating one more and achieving a pass completion rate of 96 percent to earn a standing ovation from Madrid's Bernabeu crowd.

The 31-year-old Spain international scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final as well as lifting Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 with La Roja, while winning four Champions League trophies and seven La Liga titles with Barca.

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