Jadon Sancho is no longer training with the Manchester United first-team as the club look to resolve “a squad discipline issue”.
The England international, 23, was left out of the travelling squad for the Premier League game at Arsenal earlier this month with manager Erik ten Hag revealing the decision was down to the player’s “performance in training”.
Sancho later responded on social media and claimed he had been made “a scapegoat for a long time”.
He returned to the club on Thursday following the international break with United confirming he is now undertaking “a personal training programme” away from team-mates.
A club statement read: “Jadon Sancho will remain on a personal training programme away from the first-team group, pending resolution of a squad discipline issue.”
Prior to the game on September 3, Sancho had played in all three of United’s Premier League games this season – coming on as a substitute in each – with his last outing coming against Nottingham Forest on August 26.
Midfielder Scott McTominay also missed the 3-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium with illness with Ten Hag revealing afterwards that his call over Sancho was related to his displays during training as the squad prepared for the trip in the week prior.
“Scott is ill,” the Dutchman said. “Jadon was on his performance in training we didn’t select him. You have to reach the level every day at Manchester United, you can make choices in the front line, so in this game he wasn’t selected.”
Sancho is training away from team-mates (Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty Images)
Sancho, however, appeared to disagree with his manager’s assessment in the hours after the game.
Posting on social media, Sancho wrote: “Please don’t believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue, I have conducted myself in training very well this week.
“I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into, l’ve been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair!
“All I want to do is play football with a smile on my face and contribute to my team. I respect all decisions that are made by the coaching staff, I play with fantastic players and grateful to do so which I know every week is a challenge. I will continue to fight for this badge no matter what!”
Sancho joined United in an initial €85million deal from Borussia Dortmund in July 2021 and has gone on to make 82 appearances in total for the club, scoring 12 goals.
United return to action following the international break at home against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
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(Photo: Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
