It's becoming the story of Manchester United's season. Beat the big teams and struggle against the lesser ones. A devastating counter-attack coupled with a frustrating inability to break down opponents who sit deep. One step forward, one step back.

As the halfway point of the campaign approaches, United have beaten Manchester City, Leicester, Chelsea and Tottenham.

They are the only team to take points off Liverpool, going within five minutes and added time of toppling the runaway league leaders at Old Trafford in October.

Jesse Lingard surprised StreetGames players in the Coca-Cola Christmas truck

The midfielder took part in Coca-Cola #WhereEveryonePlays campaign in Manchester

Lingard sees the funny side as the players are put through their paces during the initiative

But there have also been shock defeats by Crystal Palace, West Ham, Newcastle and Bournemouth before Sunday's 2-0 upset at bottom club Watford.

Throw in draws with Southampton, Aston Villa and Everton and the pattern of United's season is pretty plain to see as they prepare to face Newcastle again at home on Boxing Day.

But why? Is it simply a case of them being a counter-attacking team? After all, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side have only beaten one of the 12 sides against whom they have had more than 50 per cent possession this season.

Or is there more to it than that? Sat in a hotel in Manchester, Jesse Lingard considers the question and thinks there is. He believes complacency has played its part in United's erratic start.

'It's strange,' says Lingard. 'Maybe it's a mindset thing. Maybe it's our mentality going into the match thinking we've already won the game.

'If we keep the consistency and mentality we had against City and Tottenham, I don't see why we can't win every game.

'It seems like our mentality changes. To keep that consistency throughout the rest of the season when we come against the mid-table teams, we need to have the same mentality that we did going into the City and Tottenham game.

'When we start with energy and on the front foot, we'll cause team problems all day long.'

Lingard trudges off after being substituted in Manchester United's 2-0 defeat by Watford

Lingard believes that complacency is playing its part in United's erratic start to the season

United's wins over City and Tottenham earlier this month coincided with Lingard's first Premier League starts since the beginning of September. Things are looking up for the 27-year-old after a difficult spell in his career.

Lingard recently opened up to Sportsmail about the family issues off the pitch that have affected his form on it. But he has returned to the team refreshed for the challenge of playing the No 10 role.

All that's missing is a more clinical approach in front of goal as Lingard's miss at Watford on Sunday demonstrated when he was one-on-one with goalkeeper Ben Foster.

'I feel I've got my form back now and I'm back to my old self,' he says. 'Obviously form is going to be up and down. When you're in a bad patch you've just got to fight through it, listen to the manager and the coaches, work hard on the training pitch and give 110 per cent. I've done that and I feel really sharp.

'I always like to make an impact – goal and assists or work-rate and helping the team. I thoroughly enjoy doing that.

'Since I was young I've always been fit and like to stay sharp and be a box-to-box player. For me to play in that No 10 role you have to run, attack and defend.

'If you constantly do that for 90 minutes, of course you're going to get tired, but if you can do it consistently it helps the team.'

Lingard admits he is missing a clinical edge in front of goal as he waits to get on the scoresheet

He was one-on-one with Ben Foster on Sunday but chipped his effort over the bar

A Europa League and League Cup winner under Jose Mourinho in 2017, Lingard has seen United advance in both competitions again this season and believes that winning another trophy has to be the target.

'There are a lot of competitions and Man United teams always go after trophies,' he adds. 'We've not set a certain trophy that we want to win. But we're in four competitions and we want to win a trophy – that's the main aim.

'It's always bubbly around the club. When we lose or draw, we're going to be down and it's going to be a tough changing room. But we have players in the team that can bring a smile back and get everybody up for the next game.'

It's easy to mistake Lingard for one of United's new generation. His debut in August 2014 was an isolated appearance between loan spells at Leicester, Birmingham, Brighton and Derby, and he didn't establish himself in the first-team at Old Trafford until as recently as the 2015-16 season.

He has been bracketed with younger players and, in particular, his close friend Marcus Rashford. But while Rashford is 22-years-old, Lingard turned 27 last week.

He is a father to a baby girl and a senior figure for the teenage players emerging at United this season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer places an arm around Lingard's shoulder after victory over Tottenham

'I'm in between at the moment. I said at the start of the season that I would like to become a bit of a leader on and off the pitch.

'I've always come through the ranks and not been that vocal, but now I'd like to take that leadership on and be a bit more responsible in the changing room before games. I've started to do that.

'We've got a lot of the academy boys coming through the ranks now. They're getting their time to shine and are doing really well, and we've got experienced players as well who have won trophies. That blend is working perfectly for us at the moment.'

The highlight for Lingard came in Kazakhstan last month when he captained United against Astana in the Europa League. It ended with a 2-1 defeat but that couldn't take away from the significance of the occasion as United fielded their youngest ever team in Europe.

'All I ever wished for was to captain Man United and to do that and lead a lot of young lads out that night was a special feeling,' says Lingard.

'It was great for all the young lads making their debuts as well. At the end we let it slip and should have won the game, but it felt like more than a game. To be captain of Man Utd is such an honour.'

Lingard is determined to get back in the England team after his starring role at the World Cup

Lingard's hamstring problems and dip in form have had an effect on his England prospects. A player who started the World Cup semi-final against Croatia in Moscow 18 months ago did not appear in any of the Euro 2020 qualifiers for Gareth Southgate's team.

'I'm 100 per cent determined to get back in,' says Lingard. 'I'm back to my old self and that's what Ole and Gareth want to see.

'For me, it's doing well for Man United first and then England will come. I've just got to keep what I've been doing for the last few games.'

Jesse Lingard surprised StreetGames players in the Coca-Cola Christmas truck in Manchester as part of the Coca-Cola #WhereEveryonePlays campaign