How Sancho can save his Man Utd career

FT Desk

• 1 Nov 2022 18:53 GMT
• 3 min read

Jadon Sancho's bright light has only flickered intermittently since his €85 million move to Manchester United from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021.

There was rightly much excitement surrounding Sancho's arrival at Old Trafford. United had tried to sign him the previous summer and finally got their man after he had concluded his Dortmund career with 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 games.

But Sancho's production went off a cliff in Manchester - with just eight goals and four assists from his 52 appearances - as have his chances of going to the Qatar World Cup with England later this month.

READ: Is it time to call Jadon Sancho an €85m flop?

But missing that tournament could prove to be a blessing in disguise. A winter World Cup is a first, and it falls slap bang in the middle of most European domestic seasons.

While Marcus Rashford has played himself back into contention to make Gareth Southgate's final cut and Harry Maguire seems incapable of playing himself out of it, Sancho is likely to find himself training at Carrington before a two-game friendly trip to Spain.

Rashford example

This will be an opportunity for Sancho to absorb Erik ten Hag's training methods away from the madding crowd. The last time the 22-year-old had such circumstances - in pre-season - he scored three times, against Liverpool, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa.

READ: Man Utd’s plans to keep Marcus Rashford

He can do it against Premier League opposition; he just needs to prove he can do it in the Premier League. Rashford has enjoyed a turnaround under Ten Hag, and the Dutchman's meticulous training sessions are cited as part of the reason why.

"Rashford has benefitted from Ten Hag's eye for detail at Carrington and some structured training sessions with a clear end goal," report the Manchester Evening News. "The forward revealed on Sunday that he had been given relatively simple instructions from the manager, but it has improved his game."

Missing the World Cup could be a blessing in disguise for Sancho. It could save his Man Utd career.