Manchester United seeing Paul Pogba that 'I used to know', says Jesse Lingard

Pogba has four goals in three games under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Jesse Lingard believes he is now seeing the Paul Pogba he “used to know” as Manchester United's resurgence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continues.

Pogba has four goals in three games under caretaker manager Solskjaer, having scored twice in Sunday’s 4-1 victory over Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

The midfielder shared a difficult relationship with Solskjaer’s predecessor Jose Mourinho, who dropped Pogba for what-would-be his final two Premier League matches in charge.

Yet Solskjaer appears to be building his United side around Pogba and Lingard, who came up through United’s academy with the Frenchman, believes it is paying dividends.

“He’s enjoying his football,” Lingard said of Pogba. “He’s playing in the role he likes to play in, just inside off the left.

“He has the freedom to make things happen. He has always got forward in that position and scored goals.

“Ole has helped him 100 per cent. He has given him the confidence and license to be free and play his game and do what we know he can do.

“I can definitely, definitely see the Paul I used to know. I have seen him playing through the ranks and he is back to that player, the player we know.”

Solskjaer has made an immediate impact at Old Trafford and became only the third United manager in history to win his opening three games by beating Bournemouth on Sunday.

Lingard struggled to put his finger on what exactly has changed since Mourinho’s departure, but ahead of a trip to Newcastle United on Wednesday, he suggested United’s mentality has been key to turning their fortunes around.

“I am not too sure,” Lingard said, when asked to explain the sudden improvement. “We want to play with a lot of energy and attacking football and scoring one, we always want more.

“Early goals are important because then the confidence flows and we have the mentality as a team to go on and beat teams four or five-nil.

“It is all about mentality. Ole has told us to start quickly, press teams and make sure we are on the front foot and make sure that the first 15-20 minutes can decide the game.

“It is all about how we go into games. If we go into [the Newcastle game] like we have done the last three matches we will win the game.

“We’ve had the right mentality, killing teams and pegging them back and not giving them a sniff. That mentality is very important.”