Manchester United star Jesse Lingard brought smiles to dozens of kids faces with a surprise visit to watch his former team train.

The Reds forward is one of a number of Premier League players to started his footballing career at the famous youth club Fletcher Moss Rangers.

However as with many other grass roots teams, the club faces a constant battle to make ends meet.

(Image: CHRIS NEILL / MAVERICK PHOTOGRAPHY LIMITED)

Jesse, who netted the winner in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace in May, kindly agreed to held fund kit for the club’s under-11s team.

And the 23 year-old went the extra mile by paying a visit to personally hand it out.

He visited the club’s base on Mersey Bank Playing fields in Didsbury on Friday night to give each child their training jacket.

And United’s Wembley hero, who also scored in this season’s Community Shield, was given a hero’s welcome at his old stomping ground.

He was mobbed all of the kids present at the open age training session for the club, who current Reds hotshot Marcus Rashford also honed his skills.

(Image: CHRIS NEILL / MAVERICK PHOTOGRAPHY LIMITED)

Speaking afterwards he told the Mail: “It’s good to give back I think, that’s the most important thing,

“They look to players like me and Marcus (Rashford) and others players at United who have come through the system.

“Obviously they aspire to be like us and make it. In every kid’s heart that’s what they want to do.

“Clubs like this don’t get an awful lot of help, they’ve been asking for us to come down and do something.

“I’m here today and it’s really good to see how many people have come out. This is where it started, all the hard work and dedication starts here.”

(Image: CHRIS NEILL / MAVERICK PHOTOGRAPHY LIMITED)

Lingard spent more than an hour signing autographs, shirts and having photos with the delighted youngsters.

And Fletcher Moss under-11s manager Colin Sultan said the visit to see the a “really nice touch” and meant a lot the kids.

Colin, 33, from Chorlton, told the M.E.N: “It was a fantastic.

“I believe out of all the players who’ve graduated from the club he’s the first to come back and see us so it was a big gesture in that sense.

“The kids absolutely loved it and wouldn’t leave him alone.

(Image: CHRIS NEILL / MAVERICK PHOTOGRAPHY LIMITED)

“Even the City fans, they wanted pictures and him to sign their tops.

“He was just really nice, down to earth and had time for anyone.”

Lingard was last week one of four United players who went visit a dying elderly fan after an appeal on social media from his granddaughter.

Patrick Lawler passed away just 45 minutes after the visit and his family said they were eternally grateful for the gesture.