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Ten Hag Has Already Disclosed Readiness To Launch Backup Plan For Antony’s Poor Form

Kingsley Ikechi
Kingsley Ikechi
Man United manager Erik ten Hag has suggested the likelihood of having Jadon Sancho back in action this January as a potential contingency for Antony Santos’ struggles in the red shirt.

Quizzed on Sancho’s return to first-team training, Ten Hag disclosed the former Dortmund winger is nearing a return to action with the potential of that being this January especially with Antony’s lack of directness in attack required by the Dutch gaffer.

The 22-year-old decided to take a break from social media to focus on his football prior to the World Cup, and it was also announced before the training camp in Spain that he would not be travelling to Andalusia, as he was continuing his individual training program.

A statement from the club said his absence from the winter training camp was part of a process for Sancho to ‘get back to his highest level’ and Ten Hag, who has delicately handled the matter, was asked for an update on the player’s situation at the start of January.

Sancho last made a matchday squad against West Ham on October 30 and he spent time with Dutch coaches in the Netherlands throughout November on the advice of Erik ten Hag in order to keep fit and refocus during the World Cup break.

The 22-year-old caused widespread ecstasy amongst Man Utd faithful on Monday night with the release of fresh training pictures. The majority agreed that Sancho looked in excellent physical condition and a leaner version of himself.

Sources have indicated Sancho has been working hard to improve his form and taking advice from Ten Hag and he was pictured training individually at Dutch amateur club OJC Rosmalen, doing close-control ball work around mannequins.

The winger returned to full training with the first-team last week after concerns about his fitness and mental well-being but he appears to be in peak physical condition.

Although the situation has not been ideal for all of the parties involved, there is light at the end of the tunnel and the club deserve to be lauded for how carefully they have handled it with Sancho looking sharp and ready to for a return to action.

United signed Sancho for £72.9m in the summer of 2021 from Borussia Dortmund and that fee seemed a coup for one of Europe’s most exciting prospects, but he was brought to the club to play on the right wing and that might have been an oversight.

That’s because Sancho scored 20 goals from the left wing in 3,099 minutes and 24 goals from the right wing in 5,265 minutes at Dortmund. He has looked most comfortable on the left during his time at United and that led to Antony’s arrival.

It’s ironic that United’s right-wing signing found his home on the left, but considering Marcus Rashford’s form this season, it seems most likely that Sancho will compete with Antony to start down the right channel for the remainder of the campaign.

Rashford is un-droppable in this vein of form and Alejandro Garnacho also deputies for him on that side, which means Sancho will almost certainly be asked to play on the right and that might help him win a regular starting place in the team.

When starting on the left, Sancho plays as an inverted winger because he is right-footed. He prefers to cut inside and shoot or to play intricate, short passes around the box, but if he plays on the right, he will naturally be a better creative asset.

Sancho is forced to take the opposition full-back on and put crosses into the box when playing on the right and that will be welcomed by supporters, who have grown frustrated with Antony’s performances in recent weeks.

Antony has become predictable and he’s failed to provide a single assist this season. Ten Hag has given Sancho a rare opportunity to reset and return to his best and that should translate to the player producing similar displays to his Dortmund days.

United need the creativity of Sancho and he might finally deliver on the right wing when he returns to action.

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