Jesse Lingard has been out of training since joining Nottingham Forest on a free transfer this summer.
That’s the view of former Premier League striker Darren Bent with the former Manchester United midfielder struggling to step onto the pitch at his new club.
The 29-year-old was an unused substitute as Forest drew 1-1 with Aston Villa on Monday, snapping a five-game losing streak.
Lingard has made six Premier League starts, out of a possible nine, racking up 496 minutes of playing time, but is yet to register a goal or an assist.
There was some surprise that he even joined Forest, apparently snubbing a return to West Ham.
He had such a stellar six months at the Hammers that he nearly broke into England’s Euro 2020 squad with nine goals and four assists in 16 games.
Now Bent thinks Lingard needs to find his motivation again.
He told talkSPORT: “When you look at Jesse Lingard and what he did at West Ham, the intensity was there but he almost played like he had a point to prove.
“A lot of that intensity is gone. He’s at Nottingham Forest now for the season and I don’t see the same drive.
“We know he has great attributes, great ability, can score goals and create goals, but unfortunately [manager] Steve Cooper always tries to integrate it.
“He played on the left, tried it at number 10, but I think it comes from Jesse. I understand he has the contract and knows exactly where he is going to be.
“Maybe he doesn’t have the focus on the World Cup because he knows he has no chance of getting there, but he has to find his own motivation.”
Stuart Pearce was manager at West Ham when Lingard was there and he admitted he was stunned not to return.
The former Nottingham Forest player and manager told talkSPORT Breakfast: “When he came to join us his physical level was fantastic. He is a good specimen as an athlete and moves well on the pitch.
“But all the other things he had done, he fit the puzzle perfectly at West Ham when he came to join us.
“Because of his form, the goals he scored, I’m not sure he’s ever scored so many goals in such a short time. I think he had nine or ten in a half-time. season.
“You make your choice as to where you move and where you don’t move. I’m away from West Ham now, but I’m still quite amazed [he didn’t go back].
“If it was me, I would be desperate to come back.”