Manchester United’s dramatic victory over Leeds United could end up being a season defining moment for Ralf Rangnick’s side.
And the emergence of Jadon Sancho in the white-hot cauldron of Elland Road was perhaps the most pleasing aspect of one of the more enjoyable afternoons of the campaign.
Much has been made of Jadon Sancho’s struggles since signing for £73million from Borussia Dortmund last summer.
When Sancho’s signing was confirmed prior to the end of Euro 2020, his was anticipated to be the marquee arrival of the summer window.
The subsequent trolley dash to land Cristiano Ronaldo left Sancho as the B-side to a window which was set-up to end United’s Premier League drought.
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As he has for much of his career, the mere presence and aura surrounding Cristiano Ronaldo was difficult to escape for Sancho, who by the end of 2021 had missed out on three successive England squads.
His numbers dictated that a change was needed. It was his 14th game where Sancho finally broke his duck, in a 2-0 win over Villarreal, by which time the manager who had signed him - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - had already been sacked.
In and out of the XI under Solskjaer, Sancho failed to provide the kind of spark that could have reversed the alarming slide in his final months in charge.
Rangnick’s appointment also provided further concern. After all, the German made it abundantly clear that he hoped to set up in a 4-2-2-2 formation - a shape which didn’t seem to naturally suit Sancho in any position.
But Rangnick has persevered with the former Dortmund star, playing him in each of the 11 Premier League games he has been available for since the interim boss was in the dugout.
However, despite the increased playing time, Sancho had failed to live up to his exorbitant transfer fee, with Rangnick forced to address his poor form.
Speaking last month, he said: “It's a different league, different competition, more physical. He’s playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"It's also got to do with a lot of the things up here in his head.
"Whenever I see him train he's showing up and is one of the best players in the training sessions.
“Now it's about the transfer to when he's playing, showing the same kind of level and performance on the pitch.”
And in the last month, those Carrington displays have finally translated to the Premier League, putting together a run of four impressive performances during February.
His latest display against Leeds was unquestionably his best, creating two goals and looking every bit the player that had ripped the Bundesliga to pieces.
And that slow but steady improvement has backed up the prediction Solskjaer made immediately following his arrival.
Incidentally, Solskjaer’s warning came just days ahead of the season opener against Leeds, where despite winning 5-1, he failed to have an impact.
“He has had a holiday after the European Championships and then he has been a little sick, unfortunately,” he told Norwegian outlet TV2 in August.
“He has had one-and-a-half training sessions with us, so he has not trained much.
“It may take some time before he gets into top shape, but throughout the season he will be very important to us.
“He is a player I am sure will give us many happy moments in the years to come.”
It’s perhaps a cruel irony that Solskjaer being so correct with his Sancho forecast would ultimately play a hand in his sacking - but for Manchester United, the signs are all pointing in the right direction.
