Gary Neville suggested that Jadon Sancho could end up like Manchester United outcast Donny van de Beek after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer changed his formation to one without wingers.
Just 11 games into his Manchester United career, the magnifying glass is well and truly on Jadon Sancho.
The 21-year-old, who cost the Red Devils £73million to bring in from Borussia Dortmund during the summer transfer window, has had a slow start to life at Old Trafford by failing to register a goal or assist.
And Sancho was left on the bench for the entirety of United’s 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday which prompted club legend Gary Neville to claim the England international could end up like outcast Donny van de Beek.
That was due to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer employing a formation which included just three attackers, all roles which Sancho has not played in before.
But Solskjaer’s recent comments suggest his former team-mate was hasty in his assessment, as Neville aired his thoughts on Sky Sports post-match over the weekend.
“Sancho, if he’s not careful, is going to end up exactly the same [as van de Beek],” the ex-Old Trafford captain claimed.

“He’s played in some pretty appalling performances in the last few [weeks], not him… I mean team performances.

“He’s come into a club that’s looked completely disjointed in terms of their football.

“He’s played in a far better team and unit at Dortmund.”
And Neville is right in the latter respect, as Sancho flourished in BVB’s system which catered to his talents.
Head coach Lucien Favre even found room for the former Manchester City academy star as a wide attacker in a temporary 3-4-2-1 formation, proving that Solskjaer could tweak his shape and get success out of the winger.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani took up the two striking roles in his 3-5-2 against Tottenham, each grabbing a goal as they eased pressure on Solskjaer.
Marcus Rashford also came on as a substitute and scored but for the likes of Sancho, an out-and-out creator, the three attacking Solskjaer slots opted do not suit the winger’s game.
But, ahead of the Red Devils’ Champions League clash with Atalanta on Tuesday, the United boss played down speculation of a permanent switch to the shape seen at Spurs, suggesting Neville’s claim was hasty.
“We have players to play many different systems – back three, back five, wide men, wingers,” Solskjaer affirmed at a press conference on Monday.

“We looked at Tottenham, played that system and it worked. I can’t say what we will do tomorrow night.”
Sancho’s team-mate, Bruno Fernandes, joined his manager in speaking to reporters but alluded to enjoying his role behind two strikers in the mould of Ronaldo and Cavani.