Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Jadon Sancho will continue his individual training programme before he returns to first-team action.
After missing out on a place in Gareth Southgate's England squad for the 2022 World Cup, Sancho was also absent from the Red Devils' winter training camp in Spain, with Ten Hag stating that the winger was not physically or mentally prepared to join the rest of the group.
"Jadon Sancho is continuing his individual training programme as part of a process to get back to his highest level. The club is fully supporting him in this," a club statement read last month.
The 22-year-old spent time working with specialist coaches in the Netherlands during his individual programme and is understood to have had regular appointments with Dutch sports psychologist Rainier Koers, who was brought to Old Trafford by Ten Hag.
Speaking to reporters about Sancho earlier this month, Ten Hag said: "We want to bring him back as quickly as possible, but I can't give a prognosis of when that will be.
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"Sometimes there are circumstances with fitness and mood. We got a drop of level and sometimes you don't know why or what is causing it.
"That is what we're doing now to try to get him back there. It's a combination of physical but also mentally."
Sancho has since returned to United's Carrington training complex and Ten Hag has provided an update on his situation as the Red Devils prepare for their final match of 2022 away against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on New Year's Eve.
Asked about Sancho during a pre-match press conference on Friday, Ten Hag said: "He is back in Manchester and will start individual training."
"Of course, the time is coming but the time is not now. He is making progress and we will see when he is ready to return to the squad."
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Sancho has struggled to reach the heights expected at United and has only shown glimpses of his potential since his £75m transfer from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2021.
The winger made a decent start to the 2022-23 campaign, scoring three goals in his first eight appearances across all competitions, but he has not featured for the Red Devils since October 22 and has seemingly fallen down the pecking order under Ten Hag.
Sancho, who has been linked with a possible loan exit in January, has made a total of 52 appearances for United in all tournaments, including 39 starts, and has contributed with eight goals and four assists.
Elsewhere at Old Trafford, Diogo Dalot has returned to training after recovering from a hamstring injury which he sustained while on international duty with Portugal at the World Cup.
Victor Lindelof was also seen training with his teammates after missing the 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday due to illness, while Lisandro Martinez is expected to return to the first-team fold soon following an extended break after helping Argentina win the World Cup.
Man United could momentarily climb into the top four of the Premier League with a victory over Wolves, before fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur play host to Aston Villa on New Year's Day.
Oliver Thomas
