Erik ten Hag explains Jadon Sancho’s Man Utd absence with no return date in sight
Erik ten Hag has confirmed Jadon Sancho is on an “individual programme” and it’s unclear when he’ll be available for selection again.
Sancho, 22, hasn’t played for Manchester United since their 1-1 away draw against Premier League rivals Chelsea in October and was left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup in Qatar. His last international cap came in October 2021.
Sancho has struggled for form since his £73million move from Borussia Dortmund to United in July 2021. He recently deleted all his posts on Instagram and hasn’t been active on Twitter since September, which suggests he is taking a break from social media.
“We didn’t see him in the last games for United as he wasn’t in the right fitness state and he is now on an individual programme,” said Ten Hag. “We want him to finish that and hopefully see him back soon. We want to bring him back as quickly as possible but I can’t give a prognosis of when that will be.”
Sancho’s “individual programme” is taking place in the Netherlands, while the rest of Ten Hag’s squad headed to a winter training camp in Spain last week. United’s domestic campaign resumes with the EFL Cup tie against Burnley at Old Trafford on December 21.
The Red Devils are not back in Premier League action until they welcome Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford on December 27. Ten Hag has confirmed former Manchester City talent Sancho is struggling both “physically and mentally” after a decent start to the season.
The England international scored twice in his first five Premier League outings this term but hasn’t added to that tally since. Sancho also failed to make an impact in the division last season, scoring just three goals and providing three assists in 29 appearances.
Ten Hag added: “He was good on tour and he played some good games like Liverpool, Leicester and Arsenal but after we got a drop of level. Sometimes you don’t know why or what is causing it. That is what we’re doing now, trying to research and now we try to get him back there. It is a combination of physical but also mentally.”
Ten Hag would love Sancho to regain the brilliant form he showed at Dortmund, where he scored 38 goals and provided 51 assists in just 104 Bundesliga games. Those performances helped him become an established England international and win the DFB-Pokal.
Sancho knows he will have to work hard to regain his spot in United’s starting XI due to the form of Alejandro Garnacho. The 18-year-old winger scored winners against Real Sociedad in the Europa League and Fulham in the Premier League to make a name for himself.
On Sancho, Ten Hag continued: “In the start of the league he played really well, after the break his performance was lower. First you observe it then also the stats back it up.
“In the start of the season he had goals and assist and his key moments and key actions and it became less and less. Sometimes there are circumstances with fitness and mood. Now he’s on a physical programme and our aim is to get him back as quickly as possible.”
