Jordan Sancho Raises Uproar At Carrington Road As A Possible Doubt

Erik ten Hag says Jadon Sancho was not fit enough for Manchester United’s training camp in Spain and has suggested he will not figure in next week’s League Cup fourth round tie against Burnley.

Sancho missed United’s four games in November through illness and has not played since the 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea on October 22.

The 23-year-old has taken a break from social media and has been training with Dutch coaches recommended by Ten Hag in the Netherlands.

However, Ten Hag cast doubt on Sancho’s immediate playing prospects as he is not expected back at United’s Carrington training complex this week. United have not set a deadline for Sancho’s return to squad training.

“He’s not fit enough to be here,” Ten Hag told British journalists in Jerez. “First we didn’t see him the last games for United. So he wasn’t in the right status, in the right fitness state, so now he’s on an individual program and we want him to finish that program and hopefully, we see him back soon.

He’s not here, we want to bring him back as quickly as possible but I can’t give a prognosis of when that will be. I have had several talks with Jadon. I don’t think he will be back next week, no.

“Sometimes there are circumstances with fitness and mood. Now he’s on a physical program and our aim is to get him back as quickly as possible.”

Senior United sources maintain Sancho has not been exiled and figures at the club have been impressed by how delicately Ten Hag has handled Sancho’s situation.

Ten Hag had a series of discussions with the winger to settle on the best strategy for Sancho to return to optimum fitness and boost his confidence. Sancho’s training program is seen as a “reset” away from the training squad.

Sancho scored three goals in United’s first seven games this season but his form nosedived after he was overlooked by England coach Gareth Southgate for the Nations League games against Italy and Germany in September.