Manchester United deny Jadon Sancho is set to return from his exile

Manchester United have denied Jadon Sancho is set to return from his exile. 

The club coach, Erik ten Hag sparked confusion when Manchester United fans misheard him say ‘Sancho’ rather than ‘Sergio’ during his press conference on Monday, October 23.

Ten Hag was answering a question on team news ahead of Tuesday night’s Champions League game with Copenhagen. 

Asked if he expected some players back, he said: ‘We hope. Sergio, he was fit and trained all week. Today he will train and then we have to assess if he is ready and game fit.’

But many both in the room and at home thought Ten Hag said ‘Sancho’ instead of ‘Sergio’, prompting the reporter to ask a follow-up on what had changed with the winger’s situation.

Ten Hag answered that by saying: ‘We have to see if he is fit enough to be part of the squad for tomorrow.’

The club had to clarify that the United boss meant left-back Sergio Reguilon was closing in on a return to first-team action after injury.

The club confirmed at the end of the press conference the manager was indeed referring to Reguilon, who has returned to training after a hamstring injury.

Sancho was banished to train with United’s academy teams at their Carrington training complex after the £73million England winger effectively branded Ten Hag a liar after being left out of the United squad to face Arsenal on September 3. 

Ten Hag said Sancho was dropped because of his performances in training ahead of the fixture.

Sancho contradicted this in a social media post that claimed he was being treated as a ‘scapegoat’. 

Since then, Sancho has refused to give his manager the apology he wants and is showing no signs of backing down.