The glow from the goal that lit up Old Trafford had barely faded when Jesse Lingard found himself thrust back into a debate: will he make it?

At the club that cherishes wingers like no other, they have longed in recent years for someone to provide verve from the flanks. First they thought it would be Adnan Januzaj, then Angel di Maria and Memphis Depay, but now the spotlight shines on the most unlikely candidate of all.

Lingard, the 22-year-old from Warrington, came to Manchester United’s rescue against West Brom, unleashing a strike that ripped into the Stretford End net. It was the kind of moment the home crowd craves, one of their own flourishing when it matters most.

Jesse Lingard came to Manchester United's rescue to open the scoring against West Brom last weekend

The Manchester United academy product slides on his knees after finding the back of the net at Old Trafford

He has seized with both hands the chance Louis van Gaal has given him, not looking back since being thrust into the side for the 3-0 win at Everton on October 17, but, if anything, the hard work is just beginning. As has been the case throughout his career, Lingard has to prove himself once again.

This challenge, though, will not daunt him. He might have been at Old Trafford since he was seven and played in the same 2011 FA Youth Cup winning team as Paul Pogba and Ravel Morrison yet, unlike those prodigies, he has continually had to deal with questions about making the grade.

There is a reason, though, that he has lasted 16 years at Old Trafford without being cut adrift. Lingard is devoted to football and his attitude to work has struck a chord with all the coaches he has worked under, enabling him to clear hurdles such as a lack of size in his youth and serious injury.

Every time a question has been asked of Lingard, he has answered positively. David Moyes loaned him to Birmingham in September 2013 to see if he could cope with playing in front of an unforgiving crowd. Lingard scored all four goals on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday.

‘I’d wanted him for a long time,’ Lee Clark, Birmingham’s then manager, told Sportsmail. ‘I had watched him for United’s Under 21s and you could see he had ability. But if you are going to make it somewhere like United, you have to be able to handle expectation.

‘His debut was unbelievable. He got four but he could have ended up with five or six. Nothing frightened him and he just had an instinct to get into the box. When you see lads like him get their rewards, you can only be happy for them.

The Manchester United winger recently posted this picture with Cristiano Ronaldo to his social media account

England Under 21 attacker Lingard has spent 16 years rising through the age groups at Manchester United

‘There have been plenty of players with ability who haven’t had the desire to back it up but Jesse wasn’t one of them. He treated Birmingham like they were his club, he gave us everything and could never do enough to please. I can’t speak highly enough of him.’

Such sentiments are echoed by England U21 manager Gareth Southgate. When Lingard suffered a serious injury in Van Gaal’s first match at United, Southgate made a point of saying each time he named a squad how much England missed Lingard.

But he recovered to feature at Euro 2015 and scored the goal that beat Sweden 1-0, a superb half-volley that was the product of constant practice on the training ground.

Lingard posted this picture to his social media account - proving that Manchester United is all he's ever known

Lingard spent time on loan at Birmingham and scored four goals on his debut for the Championship outfit

‘He’s got a terrific work ethic without the ball and a clean, crisp touch,’ Southgate explained. ‘He was a player that we had great belief in and we were chuffed he was available in the summer and we’re really pleased to see him getting his chance (at United).

‘I’m amazed they weren’t inundated with more bids to prise him away in the summer, especially having played as well as he did at the tournament. Under pressure, he really performed well and that’s key at big clubs. My experience would be that he lives for football.

‘I remember speaking to (ex-Academy Director) Brian McClair about him when he was in the Under 18s.

Lingard's fine form out on loan and for the reserves has helped him become an important England U21 player

Lingard celebrates with Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney following victory against Everton in October

‘They stuck with him at a time where he was small. They have been very good at sticking with those late developers and I think there is more power and speed to come.’

There will have to be. United will recruit in wide areas again and Van Gaal has not wasted time highlighting the areas in which he can improve. Lingard will be undeterred. He has been patient and persistent and, most importantly, will not give up his dream.