Jadon Sancho 'is not important' – Erik ten Hag unsure over forward's future at United
The 23-year-old attacker is currently frozen out at Old Trafford and the Dutchman admits it may be the end of his time at the club
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has given Jadon Sancho no assurances over his future at Old Trafford following the pair's recent bust-up.
Ten Hag told reporters he had left Sancho out of the United squad to face Arsenal earlier in September because the 23-year-old had not done enough to impress him in training.
But shortly after the Red Devils' 3-1 loss in north London prior to the international break, Sancho took to social media to refute those claims and said he was being made a 'scapegoat' at the Old Trafford outfit.
Sancho has since been training alone and was not available for selection this weekend.
Asked ahead of Saturday's Premier League defeat at home to Brighton about the forward's future and whether he would feature again under Ten Hag, the Dutchman gave an ambiguous answer.
"I don't know," he said. "I prepare my team the best I can, I put all my effort into the players who are available. He is not available, so in this moment, he is not important, because he can't contribute."
Sancho was at Manchester City as a youth player, but left to join Borussia Dortmund in 2017 and moved to United after three-and-a-half seasons in Germany.
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Now in his third season at Old Trafford, the England international has played 82 times for the Red Devils in all competitions, scoring 12 goals.
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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was booed by the fans at Old Trafford during his side's 3-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday.
Ten Hag said United should be 'disappointed and annoyed' after their loss to the Seagulls, but insists the club is not in crisis following their third loss in five Premier League games this season.
Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho could be set for the exit door after his very public bust-up with Ten Hag before the international break.
Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.