Jadon Sancho is still yet to return to Manchester United training just days before domestic action resumes after the World Cup in Qatar.
The out-of-favour forward has been training away from Carrington in a move from Erik ten Hag designed to rediscover his form and confidence, and he was still missing as the rest of the team trained together on Tuesday.
The Red Devils’ first-team stars were back together as they prepared for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup fourth round clash against Burnley, live on talkSPORT, and Sancho was not listed among the 25-man list of players present at the club’s training centre.
It’s been a tough year for the 22-year-old, who has struggled to produce his best form since his £73million arrival at Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund.
The winger was snubbed by England manager Gareth Southgate for his World Cup squad, but in truth wasn’t even in the conversation after a long fall from favour for club and country.
Rather than staying at home, though, Sancho was sent out to the Netherlands by Ten Hag and placed on an individual regime, with the United boss admitting the player was not ready ‘physically or mentally’ to join the rest of the team on their mid-season training camp in Spain.
Ten Hag had told reporters on the trip: “I have had several talks with Jadon. He’s on a physical programme and our aim is to get him back as quickly as possible, but I can’t give a prognosis of when that will be.”
Sancho hasn’t played since October 22, when he lasted 52 minutes of Man United‘s 1-1 draw at Chelsea, and his first-team absence is now set to tick past two months.
A host of players freshly returned from Qatar were involved on Tuesday, with England’s Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford joined by the Brazilian trio of Casemiro, Fred and Antony and fellow quarter-finalists Tyrell Malacia and Bruno Fernandes.
How many of those will be involved against the Clarets – managed by former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany – remains to be seen, but Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez and France’s Raphael Varane are yet to return following their appearance in the final.
Martinez watched from the bench as Argentina lifted the trophy for the third time in a memorable showpiece, while fellow defender Varane played 113 minutes for Les Bleus before departing ahead of the penalty shootout.
It remains to be seen when Sancho will return to the first-team group, but Ten Hag last week admitted the club have not put a time frame on it.
“We want to bring him back as quickly as possible, but I can’t give a prognosis of when that will be,” said the boss.
“Sometimes there are circumstances with fitness and mood. We got a drop of quality level and sometimes you don’t know why or what is causing it.
“That is what we are doing now to try to get him back there. It is a combination of physically and mentally.
“I’ve had several talks with Jadon and I don’t think he will be back this week.”
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