Jadon Sancho can secure Man United future by copying Alejandro Garnacho in obvious next step

Jadon Sancho was not the first Manchester United player to be admonished by Erik ten Hag but his saga has lasted the longest.

Cristiano Ronaldo was gone within weeks of his explosive interview and Marcus Rashford quickly apologised after his nightclub visit following October’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Alejandro Garnacho also had to say sorry to his manager after liking a social media post criticising his boss, after the winger was hooked at half-time during a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth. "Alejandro is a young player, has to learn a lot. He apologised for it and after that we move on," Ten Hag said following the incident.

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Sancho was less eager to cede ground and his stand-off with the head coach ultimately led to his banishment from first-team training and eventual loan to Borussia Dortmund. The 24-year-old had taken issue to Ten Hag’s comments over his training levels and released a now-deleted social media post rebutting the claims.

Ten Hag exiled him from his plans from September with the winger’s only route back in via an apology. Former attacking coach Benni McCarthy later stated Sancho felt as though saying sorry would admit guilt when he felt he had done no wrong.

So with Sancho returning to United training this week for the first time since September, it seems someone has lost the battle. Either Sancho has apologised or Ten Hag has allowed him back in without one being offered.

It is unclear whether Sancho apologised to Ten Hag in this week’s meeting, which concluded that both would draw a line under the situation and move on. He may well have said sorry.