WHISPER it, but are Jesse Lingard goals proving to be growingly invaluable to Gareth Southgate's England team?

Although not the eye-catching curling effort as seen in the opening goal against USA in Thursday night's 3-0 win at Wembley, nevertheless the marksmanship of the Manchester United winger from Warrington was once again evident and timely in England's UEFA Nations League success over Croatia at the national stadium on Sunday.



VIEW > Video footage and picture gallery of Lingard's wonderful strike against USA

Lingard's goal from close range 12 minutes from time - his fourth for England - gave his team the chance to go on and win the contest 2-1 through Harry Kane in the 85th-minute.

So the 25-year-old Longford man, a former Penketh United junior, made a vital contribution in a win against the country that knocked England out of the World Cup at the semi-finals stage but more importantly sealed a place in the inaugural Nations League finals next year.

Of course, Lingard scored a stunner in the 6-1 World Cup victory over Panama in Russia in June, while his maiden strike for his country was the winner in a 1-0 result away to Holland in March.

After two goals in four days for his country, Jose Mourinho will be hoping he can break his season's duck for Manchester United in the coming weeks.