Not Ronaldo this time- Erik ten Hag ‘unhappy’ with £72m star as his problem with Man Utd winger emerges

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has called on Jadon Sancho to step up his form and demanded more commitment from the winger.

Sancho was used in the starting line-up for 10 of Ten Hag’s first 11 Premier League matches for United but has not featured in any of the last three through illness. Sancho is recuperating during the World Cup in a bid to resuscitate his career after failing to make the England squad for the tournament.

Things have not gone to plan for the talented winger since joining United from Borussia Dortmund in a £72million deal in the summer of 2021. Sancho has scored just eight goals in 52 appearances for the Red Devils having netted 50 goals in just over three seasons for the Bundesliga side.

Sancho had initially started the season strongly and found the net in two of United’s first three victories of the Premier League campaign – against Liverpool and Leicester. He was a regular in a fluid three-man attack under Ten Hag which also had Marcus Rashford as an undisputed starter.

However, the arrival of Antony from Ajax made sure that the Brazil international was a regular in United’s attack while Anthony Martial’s return from injury pushed Rashford to the left of the attack – the position where Sancho has most commonly played.

Furthermore, the emergence of Argentine teenage talent Alejandro Garnacho has further limited Sancho’s importance in United’s attack while Anthony Elanga has also been played by Ten Hag. However, the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo from Old Trafford may ensure Sancho is afforded more playing time.