Jadon Sancho could be deployed in an unfamiliar role in order to kickstart his Manchester United career after his encouraging cameo in Saturday’s Manchester derby defeat.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had coveted the England star for nearly two years before he finally landed one of his primary transfer targets in the summer after the club agreed to pay Dortmund a fee of £73m.
Sancho look destined to fill the position on the righr side of the Red devils’ attack but the intense level of competition for places intensified after the shock arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Solskjaer has been forced to reshape his attack around the goalscoring talents of the Portugal international and Sancho has been one of the main fall guys.
After a number of poor results, United restored a measure of calm after a 3-0 win over Tottenham during which Solskjaer reverted to a 3-1-4-2 system, but the speculation surrounding his future has intensified again after that formation was brutally exposed by Pep Guardiola’s side in the derby.
Sancho, however, was introduced as a substitute in the second half against City and United’s backroom team, according to The Athletic, were impressed by the way the youngster equipped himself, especially given the desperate nature of the situation with his team trailing 2-0.
United’s coaching team were reported to have been taken by the way Sancho tried to assert himself and push up in order to get beyond City’s last man, but were also impressed with his willingness to track back.
Sancho’s eagerness to fulfil his defensive responsibilities could see him given a new role in the coming weeks with the player having been trialled at right-wing back during recent sessions at Carrington.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s contributions in attack have often been a source of frustration and contention, but in recent weeks his defensive attributes have also come under the criticism.
