Lingard is currently plying his trade on loan for the remainder of the season at West Ham United, moving to the London Stadium last month after struggling to clock up minutes at Old Trafford.
Mourinho’s Spurs, who are going through a rough run of results at the moment, fell to their fifth loss in six league games on Sunday against West Ham, with Lingard sealing a 2-1 win.
And former Tottenham star Crooks feels that it is strange Mourinho, who worked with Lingard at Manchester United, overlooked bringing in the winger during the last window with his club in desperate need of a fresh face in the attacking department.
Crooks added that Lingard has got his groove back at West Ham under David Moyes, and is well on his way to completely rejuvenating his once stalled career.
“The Manchester United loanee is having a ball in east London”, Crooks wrote in his BBC column.
“David Moyes and Jose Mourinho are former managers of Manchester United and both know exactly what Lingard can do.
“I find it particularly interesting that it is Moyes who has given Lingard a chance to rejuvenate his career, when it was Spurs who desperately needed him.
“Lingard is playing out of his skin.”
The Red Devils loan star has three goals and an assist to his name in four Premier League appearances for West Ham and is now playing a key role in their quest for a European spot.
