Erik ten Hag hinted he could deploy Jadon Sancho in a new position after Manchester United were handed multiple injury blows during pre-season.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Red Devils' pre-season tour to the United States is proving to be costly as the club have lost several players, like Rasmus Hojlund, Leny Yoro and Victor Lindelof, to injuries. Joshua Zirzkee, who moved to the Premier League this summer from Bologna, has recently started training with the squad and is unlikely to feature in the club's starting lineup in the initial matches of the upcoming 2024/25 campaign.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
With several key attackers missing at the moment, manager Ten Hag recently hinted that he could assign Jadon Sancho and new position in the starting lineup. Sancho, who had a fallout with the Dutchman last summer, has reconciled with his coach and has even travelled to the US for the pre-season tour.
WHAT ERIK TEN HAG SAID
Speaking to reporters, the 54-year-old said, "That’s what we can do [play Sancho in the middle] if we don’t have the availability of Rasmus, but of course, Joshua Zirkzee, he’s coming in, he’s started training. But you also have to consider that he’s not so long in training, so that will take time, and he has to adapt to English football and our way of playing as well.
"There is also, of course, Jadon, who can play as a striker. We know he can play in wide areas, but also as a false striker, he’s an option. Marcus has done it before [played up front] and he can do it, and it’s definitely an option. But I think he is most productive from the left, starting wide and coming inside. So when he can arrive there, he is most effective. But we have other options. We have Bruno who can play as a striker as well."
WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?
United are set to return from their tour and will be next seen in action on Saturday as they take on rivals Manchester City in their first competitive game of the new season in the Community Shield.
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