Opinion: More to come from improving Jadon Sancho

Since his return, he’s been involved in six United goals – scoring two (Leeds, Leicester), playing the ‘pre-assist’ (is that a thing?) pass for Fred’s goal against Barcelona and Sabitzer’s flick against Fulham, and also effective in the build-up to Fred’s tap-in against Nottingham Forest, plus that aforementioned penalty on Sunday.

 

Still only 22, Sancho has not yet made the explosive impact made by Rashford, for example, this season, but time is on his side. And if the recent output of his fellow England international says anything, it’s that world-beating form is never as far away as fans and commentators might think.

 

After Rashford’s match-winning goal in the Manchester derby in January – his eighth strike in seven games – I remember bounding across the Stretford End bridge like thousands of others, grinning from ear to ear. As I got to Railway Road, I struck up a conversation with a friend of a friend, who admitted to me: “I wanted Rashford sold last summer.”

 

There were many more like him following the conclusion of that difficult 2021/22 season. Rashford had scored just five times in 32 appearances and dropped out of the England international set-up. But those that know the character of Marcus knew that it was just a blip. And even when he failed to find the net in the first two games under Ten Hag, the manager was unmoved. “He knows I love him,” is the comment that sticks out from those early-season press conferences.