Jesse Lingard has mocked those who have suggested he has too many distractions away from Manchester United to focus on football by insisting they would surprised by how boring he is in real life.

One of the main complaints about the England international, whose form for United has been well below what is expected from him this season, is that the launch of his own clothing range exposes a wider problem with his lack of application.

But Lingard has hit back at the critics – which include several former United players like Gary Neville and Roy Keane – and remains adamant that football is his main priority.

Lingard has not started a game for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side since the Carabao Cup win over Chelsea at the end of October and has not started a Premier League game since the 1-1 draw with Arsenal in September, but is likely to be in the team for the Europa League game against Astana in Kazakhstan this week.

And the 26-year-old is determined to come out of his slump, suggesting part of the problem has been he has forgotten how good he is.

“I did (have self-belief) in stages, but I think I still need more, even to this day now to be quite honest,” Lingard told The Official Manchester United Podcast. “Believing in your own ability to get on the ball and make things happen.