Ten Hag Hints at Sancho as Manchester United’s Striker for Community Shield

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has hinted that Jadon Sancho could start as the team’s central striker for the upcoming Community Shield against Manchester City. This news comes after Rasmus Hojlund suffered a hamstring injury during the team’s first game of the U.S. tour against Arsenal, which will keep him out for six weeks.

Sancho, who was brought back into the squad following a 10-month exile, was deployed as the No. 9 in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over Real Betis and Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool. Ten Hag believes that Sancho could be a viable option to fill the void left by Hojlund’s injury.

“Yes, otherwise we wouldn’t play with him there,” said Ten Hag when asked whether Sancho could start up front against City at Wembley.

“That is what we can do if we don’t have the availability of Rasmus, but of course, Joshua Zirkzee, he is coming in, he has started training, but also consider that he is not so long in training, so that will take time, and he has to adapt to English football and our way of playing as well.”

Hojlund suffered a hamstring injury during the team’s first game of the U.S. tour

There is also the option of Marcus Rashford, who has played as a striker before, but Ten Hag hinted that he will stay in his usual role on the left. Bruno Fernandes is another option who can play as a striker as well.

“I think that Marcus has done it [played as a striker] before and he can do it, and it’s definitely an option,” said Ten Hag.

“But I think he is most productive from the left, starting wide and coming inside. So when he can arrive there, he is most effective. We have other options. We have Bruno Fernandes who can play as a striker as well.”

Manchester United struggled for goals last season, finding the net 57 times in the Premier League to finish the campaign as the joint-lowest scorers in the top half. Ten Hag’s team also missed chances in the defeat to Liverpool in South Carolina on Saturday with Sancho, Rashford, Scott McTominay, and Mason Mount all guilty of missing good opportunities.

“Liverpool played well and took their chances,” said Ten Hag. “We also created good chances, but we didn’t take them. We need to be more clinical there and efficient.”

“I think in the end it’s like fatigue. We have been here [in the U.S.] for 12 or 13 days and, in the end, it was a tough game and maybe you miss the freshness and don’t have the power to be clinical.”

Sancho played as a striker in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory over Real Betis and Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool

Zirkzee, a £36.5 million signing from Bologna, is yet to train with the squad after returning to Carrington after his summer break rather than join the American tour. With Sancho being an option to start as the striker, Zirkzee will have to wait for his chance to prove himself.

The Community Shield match against Manchester City is set to be an exciting game, with both teams looking to start their season on a strong note.

The Community Shield match against Manchester City is set to be an exciting game