Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick's power comes under spotlight as player undermining continues

Jesse Lingard has become the latest Manchester United player to challenge Ralf Rangnick's authority.

The midfielder, who has rejected a new deal at Old Trafford and will be free to leave in the summer, was denied a January move away.

West Ham and Newcastle were in for the Englishman but United rebuffed their advances.

It means Lingard, who is yet to start a Premier League game this term, is set for a quiet second half of the season.

He will not feature in United's FA Cup tie with Middlesbrough on Friday night with Rangnick claiming the player himself had asked for time away.

The German said: "Jesse asked me and the club if we could give him a couple of days off just to clear his mind,’ said United’s interim manager.

"He will be back in training, I suppose, on Monday and then be a regular part of the whole squad."

Lingard, however, has been quick to challenge that version of events.

He took to social media to state that it was the club, not him, who advised that he have some time away from the group.

He said: "The club advised me to have time off due to personal reasons! But my headspace is clear and I’ll always be professional when called upon and give 100 per cent."

Lingard's comments come after Anthony Martial, who secured a loan exit to Sevilla, also called out Rangnick.

The German left out the striker for the draw at Aston Villa three weeks ago.

The interim boss claimed that the Frenchman had refused to be part of the squad having already publicly stated his desire to leave Old Trafford.

Rangnick told reporters: "He [Martial] didn't want to be in the squad. He would have been in the squad normally, but he didn't want to, and that was the reason why he didn't travel with us yesterday."

United squandered a 2-0