Jesse Lingard: 'There are no friends on the football pitch'

Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard has said that friendships will be forgotten when his side face Manchester City on Sunday.

Lingard, who has enjoyed a solid run of form at the Old Trafford club recently, scored twice in last weekend's win over Arsenal at the Emirates.

The England man is friendly with City star Raheem Sterling off the pitch, but admits that he is not focusing on friendships ahead of the derby.

"You know quite a lot of [the City academy players] growing up, and through the England set-up as well," Lingard told United's matchday programme.

"I'm good friends with Raheem [Sterling] off the pitch. But when you're on the pitch, there are no friends and we're there to do a job and win the game.

"I am confident [for the match]. It's two great teams going out there and you don't know what the game is going to be like. We need to make sure that Manchester is red at the end of the day."

United are already eight points behind Pep Guardiola's City, who are yet to lose a Premier League game this term.