Scouting expert: Jadon Sancho won't be in England World Cup squad

We’re delighted to welcome Football Manager’s Wolves researcher Dave Azzopardi as our exclusive columnist. Each week the scouting expert will be giving his views on the biggest talking points on Wonderkids across the UK…

Jadon Sancho won’t be in the England World Cup squad after his poor start to life at Manchester United, but it’s not all doom and gloom says Dave Azzopardi.

Sancho completed a £73m move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2021 but struggled to adapt in a difficult season in the Premier League, and this season has lost his starting spot to Antony.

He’s now not expected to be part of Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man squad for Qatar, but Azzopardi believes that if he can knuckle down and get back in the side at Old Trafford then it’ll happen for him eventually.

It’s difficult with Sancho because he’s so well spoken about over the last year or so before Manchester United signed him,” he told The Football Wonderkids.

“Obviously they got him over the line and it took him a little bit of time to adapt back to the top flight of English football. I think it’s been a difficult start for him.

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“He’s had a couple of managers, a couple of issues trying to break back into the first-team. But that Manchester United team is so competitive now and under Ten Hag, basically he’s going to take no prisoners. If you’re not playing well enough then you’re not going to play for the first-team.

“He done the exact same thing for Cristiano Ronaldo and I don’t think anyone would’ve believed if you’d told them any manager was going to do that.

“He’s had some good games over the last year or so, but he really needs to knuckle down. I think it’s just purely, he has to take his chance when he gets it.

“Players like Marcus Rashford had a poor season and he’s started off really, really well. So for Sancho when he gets a chance, whether it’s off the bench or a start, you’ve got to take that opportunity.

“If someone said to you this time last year that Sancho wouldn’t be making the World Cup squad, everyone would have been surprised.”

In other England news, journalist names one to watch for future England squads after Champions League showing