Three ways Manchester United can line up vs Man City after Jadon Sancho admission

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag has admitted that Jadon Sancho could be used as a makeshift striker.

United have an issue up front ahead of Saturday's Community Shield against Manchester City at Wembley. Rasmus Hojlund is injured until at least September whilst Joshua Zirkzee has only just returned from his extended break following the Netherlands involvement at Euro 2024.

With problems trying to fill the number nine position, Erik ten Hag admits Sancho could be used if needed. "That is what we can do if we don’t have the availability of Rasmus. Of course, Joshua Zirkzee is coming in, he said.

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"He has started training. But he is not so long in training so it it will take time and he has to adjust to English football and our way of playing.

"Jadon can, of course, play as a striker. He can also play in wide areas but it could be that he is a good option."

With all that said, MEN Sport have taken a look below at how United could line up on Saturday with Sancho and if several players back from their holidays are used.

Ten Hag has tended to play with a 4-3-3 formation at United with the pace of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho on the wings. Against City though, it could be a risky tactic, especially if Casemiro is the only holding midfielder.

But whilst this is not a pre-season friendly, the real focus should be on the Premier League opener against Fulham so getting the players settled into a formation they are likely to use a few days later may be worth doing.

If Joshua Zirkzee is fit to play then he could be used as a second