Erik ten Hag's Jadon Sancho decision has just been explained by a Manchester United teammate

When Manchester United's players reported for the start of pre-season, few could have envisioned Jadon Sancho playing as often as he has done.

The winger, who was exiled from the first-team squad for the best part of 12 months, ended United's pre-season campaign by featuring in four of their five friendlies. It was only against Rosenborg that he played no part.

He started the clashes with Rangers, Real Betis and Liverpool, and appeared from the bench in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal in the opening game of the tour. He made four appearances more than many would have anticipated.

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Having performed professionally during United's tour of the US, both as a left-winger and as a 'false nine', he's put himself in contention to start Saturday's Community Shield clash with Manchester City at Wembley. United will be without Rasmus Hojlund in the capital because of a hamstring injury.

Hojlund faces up to six weeks on the sidelines, meaning United will navigate their way through the first few weeks of the campaign without their chief striker. The Reds were without sufficient centre-forward options last season because of Anthony Martial's brittleness and Hojlund's occasional spells of unavailability.

In an attempt to avoid such troubles this time around, United swooped for Joshua Zirkzee last month, signing him from Bologna on a five-year contract. Sporting director Dan Ashworth admitted the addition of a forward was a key aim for the club coming into this summer's window.

Zirkzee, however, is not a natural No.9; he is a forward who will drop deep to get on the ball, link the play