Man Utd star Jesse Lingard reveals touching JLingz handprints present from one-year-old daughter on his 27th birthday
JESSE LINGARD revealed a touching present from his daughter on his 27th birthday – a picture featuring her tiny handprints in his famous JLingz celebration.
The framed artwork says ‘happy birthday daddy’ and has the outlines of the one-year-old tot’s tiny hands in red.
The player has only just publicly revealed that he shares a child with former lover and fitness centre manager Rebecca Halliday.
And the Manchester United star also posed on the stairs of his home with a giant birthday cake that featured a replica of him posing with his trademark hand sign that spells out the first letters of his name.
He now runs a clothing brand called JLingz.
Jesse celebrated his birthday on Sunday but marked the occasion by opening up about his struggles in recent months including his mother’s illness.
He said worrying about his family had led to a dip in form.
The midfielder stepped in to care for brother Jasper, 14, and sister Daisy-Boo, 11, after their mum Kirsty fell ill.
Jasper is now living with Jesse and being schooled at his house.
Jesse, who has attended parents’ evenings, added: “My mum has had some things for years but never really got help. Now she is.”
Lingard's form has suffered and he has received several rebukes from United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
In a frank interview with he said: "I wasn't performing and he was on me all the time. He wanted more from me.
"So I felt it was best to get everything off my chest and tell him why my head wasn't right.
"So I knocked on his door."
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Earlier this season, Kirsty became unwell.
He added: "I am normally quite bubbly and want to put smiles on people's faces but people have seen the change in my ways.
"I have been down and glum; just worrying. I felt like everybody just passed all the stuff to me and it weighed on my shoulders. It was like 'Here you go Jesse, you deal with this on your own.'
"It has been tough to see my loved ones struggling and then I have to come to work and try to do my job."