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Lee Clark has revealed the key to extending Jesse Lingard's loan to Birmingham City.

The Blues boss said that Manchester United had to see that the 20-year-old forward was developing and gaining valuable experience.

Lingard has joined Blues for a month, until October 20.

Blues want an agreement for as long as possible, but the ball is ultimately in United's court.

They have told Clark that they do not want Lingard cup tied, so he will not feature in tomorrow's Capital One Cup clash against Swansea City at St Andrew's.

"What we have got to try and do is continue to win games and for Jesse to enjoy his football to make the stay longer," said Clark.

"That's what we aim to do because, you know, we certainly don't want him here just for the short term. We want him here for as long as possible.

"The month will be up quite quickly.

"And, more importantly, Manchester United need to see that he is developing as a player and is enjoying the environment where he is playing."

Lingard could hardly have made a better start, bagging all four goals in a sensational debut performance against Sheffield Wednesday.

Clark revealed: “I sent a text to David Moyes after the game Saturday.

“I see by the television footage that he was at the Hawthorns.

“He just replied saying he was delighted for the lad.”

Because of the complex nature of youth, emergency and standard loans, the longest period Blues could have Lingard’s services for is until the end of February.

The initial month’s loan could be extended for another month, then Blues would have to convert it to an emergency loan, providing another three months at St Andrew’s.

But everything depends on what Moyes and United want to do ultimately.

Clark admitted he had never seen anything like Lingard’s feat against the Owls.

"When I was a young lad, an apprentice in the early days at Newcastle United, I remember Micky Quinn coming and on his league debut at St James' against Leeds United he scored four goals.

"But I have not known anything like that before, not being involved directly.

"So to be a manager and for one of your signings to do that . . . it makes the job look easy, doesn't it?.”

Clark, who is also without another loanee Kyle Bartley tomorrow as his parent club do not want him involved against them, admitted that Lingard was just what the doctor ordered for Blues.

"It was a performance from us where we had someone who was clinical.

"And, without trying to make things complicated, that was the difference between the Sheffield Wednesday result and the Watford result, the Brighton result, the QPR result, possibly even Leicester. Even though we didn't make as many chances, we still had one or two opportunities when it was 1-0 to kill the game at Leicester.

"We could easily be sitting here with anything from three to five to seven points extra.

"And I have said all along - and I still believe we have had one poor performance all season, Burnley away - we have deserved something from our games, the rest of the time.”