Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Darren Bent believes Jesse Lingard should leave Manchester United permanently.

The English star was very impressive during a loan spell at West Ham United during the second half of last season.

Lingard managed nine goals and five assists in 16 appearances for David Moyes' Hammers side.

Now he is back in Manchester for preseason with United, but Bent thinks he should move in the present transfer window.

"It's hard to walk away from a size of the club of Manchester United, I understand that," Bent told talkSPORT.

"He came through the youth system there and loves that football club, but ultimately he's way down the pecking order.

"The form that he showed the back end of last season for West Ham, getting himself back into England contention was superb.

"I would want to keep that momentum going. I wouldn't want to sit on the bench and not start, get a couple of minutes here and a couple of minutes there.

"I'd be thinking 'I like what David Moyes is building, playing week-in week-out, be the main man', and who knows get himself back into this England squad."