“I feel for Jadon Sancho”

Manchester United legend Lee Sharpe admits he feels sorry for Jadon Sancho amid the striker’s recent struggles.

Red Devils manager Erik ten Hag recently revealed that Sancho is not training with the first team due to ‘physical and mental’ difficulties.

The £73million man has failed to live up to expectations since his highly anticipated move from Borussia Dortmund in July 2021.

Sancho has since lost his place in the England squad, missing out on the 2022 World Cup.

Before the Premier League winter break, the 22-year-old missed several games due to illness.

Now, however, Ten Hag has hinted at a deeper issue and it’s unclear when Sancho will be ready to return.

Sharpe spent eight years at Old Trafford and offered his sympathy to the struggling striker.

The former defender told talkSPORT: “I feel for Sancho. Huge price tag, tore the Bundesliga and Champions League apart while he was in Germany.

“He moved to Man United and it doesn’t seem to have worked out for him so far.

“Confidence is a huge thing and if you don’t go to a big club like that…”

Sharpe added: “He’s not the first and won’t be the last to go as a big signing and wrestle.

“I don’t know if it’s the size of the club or the fact that he just didn’t start well. When he got there they weren’t playing good football.

“They weren’t fluent or attacking. So he was probably doing more defense than he would have liked.

“Then he had a few injuries, but he didn’t recover. Then you see younger guys coming in and you start losing confidence.

“He just needs to get back on track. Regain your focus, regain your fitness, regain your confidence in training.

“When you have the chance, he has to show what he has. Because I always think he has a lot to offer the club.

“He’s an incredible player, he has incredible ability, he’s a tremendous asset, but he needs to have his head straight and his confidence level where it needs to be.”