Posted: 20:53, September 15, 2022 | Updated: 21:21, 15 September 2022
Owen Hargreaves insists Jadon Sancho showed his “all good” in his goal for Manchester United against Sheriff on the same day he was overlooked for the England squad.
The 22-year-old – who has scored three goals in eight games this season – was on Thursday left out of Gareth Southgate’s 28-man squad for the Nations League games against Germany and Italy later this month.
But the former Borussia Dortmund man provided the perfect response to his grind at the Three Lions, scoring United’s first goal in their 2-0 Europa League win in Moldova.
Owen Hargreaves praised Jadon Sancho after he perfectly responded to his greed in England
Sancho scores first goal in Manchester United’s 2-0 Europa League win against Sheriff
Jadon Sancho completed a great move to Man United 😍
After being left out of the England squad earlier today, the striker responds by scoring the first in Moldova 👊#UEL pic.twitter.com/qJYvDXEvsB
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) September 15, 2022
And speaking to BT Sport, former United midfielder Hargreaves believes Sancho will be surprised to be left out of the England squad but will be “delighted” with the emphatic response he put in with Erik ten Haag’s men.
“I think he’ll be surprised [Sancho not making England squad]Hargreaves said. “He’s played well, he’s had a good run this season.
“But he’ll be happy with it [goal]. When he gets a bit of bad news, he puts out his own good news.
“Jaden is good at these [central] areas it wants to connect to [Christian] Eriksen and Bruno [Fernandes] and Cristiano [Ronaldo].
The goal came hours after Gareth Southgate had omitted him from his 28-man squad.
Hargreaves believes Sancho will be surprised to be left out of Three Lions squad
“There are great options in these offensive areas. The goal showed everything for Jadon Sancho.’
Asked if being left out of Southgate could be positive for Sancho, Hargreaves added: “The players want to be there in the bigger games.
“There is a big tournament coming up, so the players will be worried about that.
“But it’s out of his hands, all he can do is play well this season and today was another good performance like against Liverpool.”
Meanwhile, Hargreaves’ former United midfielder Paul Scholes believes Sancho was unlucky not to be selected ahead of Manchester City star Jack Grealish – who has not scored or assisted this season – in their squad England.
“Gareth picked his players for a reason, probably from previous teams,” said Scholes.
Paul Scholes believes Sancho was unlucky not to be ahead of Man City star Jack Grealish
“But I think Sancho deserves to be above Jack Grealish at the moment. He scored a very good goal against Liverpool and showed very good signs tonight. He’s best when he comes in and connects the game.”
Both pundits also praised Sancho for his link-up game and believe it bodes well for the future if he can continue to link up with his United team-mates.
“I think they signed Jadon as a winger, given all his performances for Dortmund,” added Hargreaves. “But he actually wants to come in and link up with Bruno and Eriksen.
“Now with Eriksen in the side they have more possession. Logging in and connecting, that’s what [Sancho] he is extremely good at. He showed some composure like he did against Liverpool and a good finish.’
Scholes believes ex-Borussia Dortmund star is best when coming down the wing
Meanwhile Scholes said: “Sancho and United really showed their quality. It’s a great first touch from him and he’s got great feet, we know that. He’s probably a bit better in those central areas.
“There was a lot of disguise on the shot and the finish is a bit clunky because he kicks it into the ground, but a great goal.
“He doesn’t have that electric pace to get past someone outside or inside.
“When he was good at Dortmund, he did [Erling] Haaland to connect with, had [Achraf] Hakimi. If he can do that at Manchester United and find Fernandes and Eriksen to link up, he could be a good player for United.”
Scholes insists Sancho will benefit from linking up with Christian Eriksen (L) and Bruno Fernandes (R)
