WHEN Manchester United’s Three Musketeers kicked off this season, few would have backed Jesse Lingard to be the biggest star.
But he has emerged ahead of Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford from another roller-coaster season at Old Trafford.
The trio all started out at Old Trafford but have taken very different career paths until now — when two of them reached a crossroads.
One of the first pictures of Pogba after he returned to Manchester in August 2016 was him with Lingard in a Nando’s.
The 25-year-olds — who won the FA Youth Cup together with United in 2011 — also post social media videos that are genuinely funny . . . occasionally.
Follow them on Snapchat and they show off secret handshakes, dabs and dance moves.
Rashford — five years younger and more reserved — cannot resist the infectious humour Lingard provides, which often helps lift the stresses of playing for the world’s biggest club.
While Pogba is in a constant spotlight due to his £89million price tag, Rashford’s travails are something of a sideshow.
NO TAKE OFF Paul Pogba determined to stay at Manchester United and prove himself despite Jose Mourinho bust-up
His future at Old Trafford was thrown into doubt after the arrival of Alexis Sanchez in January and Romelu Lukaku last summer.
Rash has made 44 appearances but is set for just his 23rd start away at Bournemouth tonight.
#beardgang 
Suggestions he might look for a move or even a loan to get more first-team football appear wide of the mark, though. Rashford wants neither — just a regular place in Jose Mourinho’s side.
While the 20-year-old prefers to be an out-and-out striker, he and Anthony Martial shared a role on the left-hand side of a three behind Lukaku.
Then Sanchez arrived. The Chilean, though, has not lived up to his billing and was part of Sunday’s dreadful 1-0 home defeat to rock-bottom West Brom.
That blew the doors wide open for places in this Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham. And auditions start tonight.
Rashford showed his undoubted class with both goals in last month’s 2-1 home win over Liverpool.
He kept his place for the next game, the Champions League clash with Sevilla, but United turned in one their worst performances of the season as they crashed out. Since then, Rashford has played just 53 minutes as a sub in four games.
. #manutd #heretocreate @manchesterunited @jesselingard
Yet whenever Rashford’s name comes up, Mourinho is quick to point out he is always in his squads, reminds everyone of his age and that he is learning every day. And his 12 goals this term is already better than his 11 last season and eight in his sensational debut year.
It was Rashford’s sparkling start to his first-team career that raised the expectation levels.
He arrived as a late replacement for Martial in a Europa League tie with Midtjylland — and scored twice in a 5-1 victory.
Three days later, he scored two and set up another on his Premier League debut to beat Arsenal 3-2.
United and England fans had seen the future. But big-name arrivals such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Lukaku and now Sanchez blocked his path.
Gareth Southgate has told United boss Mourinho he still expects Rashford to be in Russia with the Three Lions.
Pogba will be there, too, central to French hopes.
But then, he was supposed to be central to United’s hopes.
He was hauled off again on Sunday and has been subbed or left out of the starting line-up in eight of the last 13 games.
He could be sidelined again tonight — and even at Wembley on Saturday — with Scott McTominay ready to step back in.
While Pogba and Mourinho are not happy with each other, the midfielder chose United ahead of Real Madrid because he wanted to be back at the club where he started.
He enjoys being in Manchester and is determined to stay and make a success of it.
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Mourinho wants to get the best out of the player.
Perhaps it is the frustration boiling up in both of them over his form that makes them clash.
United’s hierarchy certainly do not want to lose a player they worked so hard to buy from Juventus after just two seasons — especially not to the club they fought off to get him.
Spanish giants Real remain keen to sign him two years on.
As for the third home-grown star, Lingard has similar stats to Rashford, with 42 appearances, 25 starts and 13 goals this season.
But his all-round play with those quick feet and eye for the spectacular goal make him stand out and could see him being voted United’s player of the year.
For Mourinho, that is as big a source of celebration as Pogba’s form is a frustration.
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