Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 8y

Jesse Lingard to reap rewards of England call-up - Louis van Gaal

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal believes Jesse Lingard will benefit from the experience of his first England call-up.

Lingard, 22, an under-21 international, was added to Roy Hodgson's squad for Tuesday's 2-0 friendly win over France, in which he was an unused substitute.

The winger has only played 193 minutes of Premier League football but Hodgson turned to him when injuries ruled out players including Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge, Jamie Vardy, Jordan Henderson, James Milner, Jack Wilshere and Michael Carrick.

Although Van Gaal had said before the call-up that it was too soon for Lingard to be selected, he admitted he had picked more untried players in his time as Netherlands coach.

"I am very pleased," Van Gaal told a news conference. "It is very fast so it is the circumstances also, but I have congratulated him for his promotion. It is always fine to see players are developing and because of that he is rewarded.

"I think I have done the same. When I think a player deserves it, I have selected younger players in my period as a national coach. It is dependable on the circumstances -- on what kind of player you need, what kind of profile you need in your selection, so I think that is more important.

"Of course it is fast but when a player shows on a high level what he can do then he can do it also in a national team. Now he has the experience already of being in the national squad of England and that is a different environment, so when he is called up again he has more experience and that is good."

United visit Watford on Saturday and, as at all Premier League games this weekend, "La Marseillaise" will be played before kick-off as a tribute to the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks.

"We as a member of the sport of football cannot do too much but we can give support in symbols," Van Gaal said. "I think this is a nice, nice thing for the French people, for the victims, for the relatives of the victims. It can give them force and strength to survive."

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