Jadon Sancho is unlikely to be available for Manchester United’s clash with Nottingham Forest over Christmas as the struggling England star continues his rehabilitation away from the club.
Sancho hasn’t played for United since October and missed the training camp in Spain earlier this month because manager Erik ten Hag said he wasn’t physically or mentally ready to take part.
The 22-year-old, who has also taken a break from social media, has been in Holland working with coaches recommended by Ten Hag.
United have not put a time limit on Sancho’s return but Ten Hag doesn’t expect him to play against Forest at Old Trafford on Tuesday. ‘I don’t think so,’ replied the Dutchman when asked about his availability.
After Ten Hag described Sancho’s issues as ‘a combination of physical but also mentally’, it emerged this week that the United players are working with Dutch sports psychologist Rainier Koers.
Ten Hag added: ‘He is here continually the whole season working in the coaching staff, working with the squad but also with the staff and departments. That’s his job to get the right spirit in the individual and the team.’
Ten Hag will wait for Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane to return to the club on Monday before deciding if they can play any part against Forest.
The two United centre-backs faced off in the World Cup final between eventual winners Argentina and France, and will be the last players to report back from the tournament in Qatar.
If Harry Maguire recovers from illness, he and Victor Lindelof are set to start against Forest with Ten Hag unsure if Martinez and Varane will be ready.
‘I don’t know, I couldn’t answer,’ said the United boss. ‘He (Martinez) is still celebrating in Argentina. I can understand that it’s very emotional.
‘Winning the World Cup for your country is the highest you can be. But also Martinez has to accept that on the 27th the Premier League comes back.
‘Varane, of course, is disappointed but can also be proud of being in the final. All that he has achieved in his career already is massive, as a team and a player.
‘He can still be proud to win so many trophies. Getting to the final is a massive achievement. His nation were so close.’
Ten Hag and his back-room staff have tried to tailor each player’s return to domestic action based on their specific circumstances post World Cup.
He added: ‘We have a plan. It’s all individual based. No-one is the same or has the same programme or minutes. It depends on the positions and the age of the players.
‘We all knew the restart was five or six days after the World Cup final. Everyone has to be ready and accept it. The manager and coaching staff, of course, but also the players – they have to accept it.
‘They want trophies. We spoke about the tough competition, and we have to be ready for it and deal with it: do it smart and hopefully get the right performance and results.’