Manchester United are starting to get what they expected from Jadon Sancho

When Manchester United spent £73million on Jadon Sancho last summer, the idea that within 18 months he wouldn't be considered good enough for a place in a 26-man England squad for the World Cup would have been unthinkable.

Swapping Borussia Dortmund for Old Trafford felt like the moment Sancho would explode onto the biggest of stages, rather than retreat from it. But while England prepare for crucial Nations League fixtures against Italy and Germany this week — their last two games before the World Cup starts — Sancho is having a few days off before getting back down to business at Carrington.

After last Thursday's Europa League win in Moldova, Erik ten Hag said he couldn't focus on too much structural work during the break because "90 per cent" of the squad are away. That Sancho is in the 10 per cent still feels incredible.

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But it's hard to really argue otherwise, even if his form this season must be edging him closer to that squad. He's certainly started the season more convincingly than Jarrod Bowen and his numbers stack up better than Jack Grealish, although they are different players.

It was confirmed on July 1 last year that United and Dortmund had agreed a deal for Sancho, although the move wasn't officially completed until three weeks later, when the European Championships had finished. That tournament didn't go to plan for Sancho, even before his penalty miss in the final.

There was once a time when being a £70million winger for United would be a guarantee of an England place, but competition is fiercer these days. Sancho has added just one cap and 73 minutes to his international CV since arriving at Old Trafford and that was back in October