Erik ten Hag has admitted there is “a way to go” before Jadon Sancho is welcomed back into the Manchester United matchday squad.
The winger has not featured for United since October’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea and was put on an individual training programme over the festive season. He has not been included in the squad to take on Arsenal this Sunday, although has returned to first-team group training.
Sancho had a promising start to the season, netting three times in his first seven matches which included a composed turn and finish in the 2-1 win over Liverpool. However, his last inclusion in a matchday squad came in the 1-0 win over West Ham on October 30, remaining on the bench.
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Speaking to club media ahead of the clash with table-toppers Arsenal - against whom Sancho played 67 minutes in September’s 3-1 win - Ten Hag detailed he wants to see "progress" from the 22-year-old if he is to break back into his in-game plans.
“It [group training] is the next step - he still has a way to go,” he said. “He will know that, but when he makes this progress, then he can return in the group for games. Of course, we all hope that, because he is a great footballer. He has great skills that can help us.
“We have to cover so many games, but especially we need quality players, and he is definitely a quality player who can make the difference and we are expecting that from him.”
Initially staying coy about Sancho’s availability in Wednesday’s press conference, Ten Hag had outlined: "He is making the next step and because it is true, yesterday was the first time in the team training.
“But I think training was a final training before a game, so we will extend that in the coming days and weeks and then go step by step." Sancho has played just 14 matches this season, 12 of them starts.
Speaking about Sancho earlier this month, Ten Hag suggested that the talent was working on both his physical and mental attributes.
"At this moment he's not fit enough, physically,” he said on January 5, when asked about Sancho’s specialised individual training programme. "But the physical is also in connection with the mental. But now he's making good progress.
"I think for many top athletes, sometimes it’s good to go away from the place where you are at daily to get a new vibe and a new experience. This can give you the right push to get back on track. Footballers aren’t robots.”
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