Jadon Sancho has not been included in the Manchester United squad for their upcoming friendlies with Cadiz and Real Betis in Spain.
The 22-year-old was unsurprisingly left out of the England squad for the 2022 World Cup, having found it difficult to impress for the Red Devils since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in July 2021.
Sancho established himself as one of the most exciting youngsters in world football during his time at BVB, scoring 50 goals and registering 64 assists in 137 appearances for the German outfit.
However, he has only managed eight goals and four assists in 52 games for Man United.
Sancho has scored three times in 14 appearances for the 20-time English champions this season, including Premier League goals against Liverpool and Leicester City.
© Reuters
However, the attacker has not played for Man United since October 22, as he was an unused substitute against Sheriff Tiraspol on October 27 and West Ham United on October 30 before missing the matches against Real Sociedad, Aston Villa (twice) and Fulham due to illness.
Towards the end of last month, the Manchester Evening News reported that Sancho was working with Dutch coaches in the Netherlands.
The report claimed that the coaches had been recommended by Man United boss Erik ten Hag, who is desperate to get the best out of the former Manchester City youngster.
"He [Sancho] has had some really good performances [earlier in the season] and was going in a good direction. But the last weeks he struggled with illness. Then it's normal that you don't get the nomination for [the World Cup]. Every manager will take only fit players to the World Cup," Ten Hag recently told reporters.
© Reuters
Man United have now confirmed that Sancho will not be making the trip to Spain for the friendlies with Cadiz and Real Betis, as he continues his "individual training programme".
"Jadon Sancho is continuing his individual training programme as part of a process to get back to his highest level. The club is fully supporting him in this," said the club on their official website.
Axel Tuanzebe is also absent from the squad, as he continues his injury recovery, but there are plenty of familiar faces in the shape of David de Gea, Victor Lindelof, Donny van de Beek, Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial, Anthony Elanga and Alejandro Garnacho.
Man United will face Cadiz on December 7 before taking on Real Betis three days later, and they will then be back in competitive action against Burnley in the EFL Cup on December 21.
Man United squad in full:
De Gea, Heaton, Bishop, Dubravka; Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka, Williams, Mengi, Bernard, Jurado, Hardley, Bennett, Oyedele, Murray, Fredricson; Van de Beek, McTominay, Savage, Iqbal, Hansen, Gore, Mainoo; Martial, Elanga, Shoretire, Garnacho, Hugill, McNeill, Emeran
Matt Law
