Manchester United attacker Jesse Lingard has insisted that Wayne Rooney's absence was not the reason behind the team's comfortable victory over Leicester City last weekend.
The Red Devils returned to winning ways in style against the Premier League champions, racing into a four-goal lead before going on to claim a 4-1 triumph.
The win came without captain Rooney after he was dropped to the bench amid criticism of his form, but Lingard insists that there is still plenty more to come from the 30-year-old.
"I don't think there was a difference, it's just the mentality on the matchday," he told reporters.
"Wayne's a top-class professional, top-class player, who's won many things with Man United and he's still got many years to go. He's an inspirational guy and he's a leader.
"Obviously against Leicester the manager switched up the team, gave it a different dynamic, and we won the game but, with or without him, we're going to do the best we can as a team, because we are a team and we're going to stick together."
Manager Jose Mourinho admitted earlier today that he was unsure whether he would recall Rooney to the starting XI for Thursday's Europa League clash with Zorya Luhansk.
Barney Corkhill
