Michael Carrick’s view on ‘sensible’ Jadon Sancho as Man Utd face large switch choice
Jadon Sancho has kicked into life at Aston Villa and Michael Carrick’s comments on the Manchester United mega flop speak volumes with a huge decision looming
VILLARREAL, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 23: Jadon Sancho of Manchester United is congratulated by Michael Carrick, Interim Manager of Manchester United after the UEFA Champions League group F match between Villarreal CF and Manchester United at Estadio de la Ceramica on November 23, 2021 in Villarreal, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)(Image: )
Michael Carrick holds Aston Villa’s European hero Jadon Sancho in high regard after working closely with him during his initial stint as caretaker manager at Manchester United in 2021.
The Red Devils legend has stepped into the interim head coach role at Old Trafford until the end of the season, following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim. With only the Premier League left to contend for, it’s likely Carrick will cast an eye over some of the overlooked Red Devils currently out on loan.
One such player is United £73m mega flop Sancho, who’s currently turning out for Villa. The Villans are sitting in third spot in the league standings after an impressive first half of the season. And on Thursday night Sancho scored his first goal for the Midlanders as they beat Fenerbahce and qualified for the Europa League last 16 with a 1-0 victory in Istanbul.
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Previous loan stints at Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea saw the 25-year-old find some form, but he’s been a rare sight in a United shirt since his public spat with former gaffer Erik ten Hag. United paid £73m for the England international when they signed him from Borussia Dortmund in July 2021.
The sidelined winger might find a route back to Old Trafford via Carrick, who spoke highly of Sancho during his first tenure that year. After Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure, the former midfielder took the reins as caretaker boss, notching two victories and a draw from three outings, reports the Mirror.
Sancho found the back of the net in Carrick’s debut match as boss, a Champions League face-off against Villarreal that saw United clinch a 2-0 victory. The stand-in manager was all praise for the young winger post-match, stating: “To finish it off, Jadon was brilliant.
“I know how much Jadon loves the ball at his feet and trying to make things happen, it’s where he’s happiest. But on the other side of the game, he put a real effort in defence and it was a big night for him.”
Carrick further underscored Sancho’s pivotal role in the match, saying: “I was so pleased for Jadon. I thought he worked his socks off tonight, I thought he gave everything tonight.
“At times, it wasn’t always with the ball and I know how much he enjoys the ball at his feet and trying to make things happen. He showed a different side tonight and, to get his goal at the end, pretty much capped it off perfectly for him and for us.”
These remarks shed light on the potential Carrick spotted in Sancho and could hint at a comeback for the winger at Old Trafford. However, United might let him walk away for free when his contract runs out this summer.
It’s believed United are leaning towards cutting their losses with the winger to dodge another year of his wages if he’s not in their plans.
Carrick’s guidance could potentially play a role in revitalising the forgotten player’s career, either by paving the way for a comeback or making him a more appealing prospect to other clubs.
