Jesse Lingard cracks joke about Alexis Sanchez's arrival at Manchester United as he pretends to shake his hand and welcome him as he takes over club's Instagram feed

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Jesse Lingard took full advantage of his new privileges on Thursday as he ran Manchester United's official Instagram account. 

The Englishman showed off his latest handshake with close friend and team-mate Paul Pogba before fooling fans by joking that Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez was undergoing his medical at Carrington.  

Sanchez is expected to be announced imminently as a United player and Lingard could not resist a teasing Instagram story where he pretends to welcome the Chile ace to the club: 'Hope the medical goes well' 

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Jesse Lingard pretended Alexis Sanchez was having his Manchester United medical 

United striker Marcus Rashford gave Lingard a lift to training at Carrington on Thursday

Lingard's Instagram antics were caught in the act as he was pictured entering Carrington 

Sanchez is widely expected to join the club this month as United fans eagerly await news of an official announcement. 

And despite captioning the story 'Only joking', some fans thought the midfielder was about to unveil Sanchez as he cracked a joke and pretended to shake the forward's hand in the club's medical room. 

Lingard is regularly criticised for his off-field antics but the 25-year-old was in fine form as United fans followed the midfielder from his bed in his first story at home. 

He caught a lift in to training with close friend and team-mate Marcus Rashford as the pair listened to 'Birthday Girl' by United fan Stormzy.

As they drove through the entrance at the club's Carrington training base Lingard was caught in the Instagram act as his stories shot inside Rashford's car were caught by a photographer. 

And Rashford's Instagram torment was to continue when the pair went for breakfast with Chris Smalling as Lingard questioned the striker's use of ketchup with his morning ham and cheese omelette. 

Fans had the opportunity to participate in a poll as Lingard suggested it 'doesn't make sense' to have ketchup with egg - Rashford and Smalling did not agree.

For Lingard, his unique dance moves have become a major talking point of the season so far and before the training session started he was filmed in the corridor working on a new routine with Pogba and young defender Axel Tuanzebe.  

Lingard was critical of close friend Rashford's use of red sauce with his pre-training omelette

The United star showed fans a glimpse of the canteen at as he ate alongside Chris Smalling

The trio are captured excitedly jumping around before shouting along to a song as spirit in the United camp is on a high after Monday's 3-0 win over Stoke City.

Lingard is enjoying his best spell in front of goal at United and is a known joker among the playing squad. 

With weather in Manchester chilly, Lingard and the rest of the squad were clad in hats, snoods and gloves as they continue their preparations for Saturday's trip to Turf Moor to face Burnley. 

The United star was in a hat, snood and gloves as he looked to combat the cold weather