Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has given an update on the status of Jadon Sancho, with the winger a doubt to face Liverpool on Sunday.
Sancho was absent from the United matchday squad for three months between November and February, returning during the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest on February 1.
He first suffered an illness in October which ruled him out of the club’s final fixtures before the World Cup, and was not named in England‘s squad to go to Qatar.
He then spent time training in the Netherlands during the World Cup, in what was described as a ‘reset‘. Ten Hag claimed that he was not ‘physically [or] mentally’ ready to play for United in their mid-World Cup training camp.
The Dutchman carefully re-introduced Sancho into the first team, and he has scored two goals in seven appearances since his return to action. He appeared off the bench during the 2-0 Carabao Cup final win over Newcastle on Sunday.
However, he was not included in the squad to take on West Ham in the FA Cup on Wednesday due to illness.
Speaking ahead of the match, Ten Hag gave an update on whether the 23-year-old could be available against Liverpool.
Ten Hag gives Sancho Man Utd update
After making six changes for the FA Cup tie, the manager was asked about the reasons behind the adjustments to his starting XI before the match.
He told ITV: “It’s about using the squad and until this moment, we use everyone. They all have to be ready to play, so obviously we make six changes, but the rules and principles are the same.
Then, in a separate interview with MUTV, he added: “One is ill [Sancho], the other [Luke Shaw] is a small injury, I hope it’s not too bad.
“We’ll have to see how it develops to Sunday, but he’s not available for tonight. We know we have good players in the squad and we can replace that.”
United supporters will hope that both Sancho and Shaw are back in contention to take on Liverpool – but it appears like it will be a waiting game on each player before the clash at Anfield gets underway on Sunday.
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