Manchester United: How Jadon Sancho is slowly showing why Red Devils made him a marquee signing last summer

There wasn’t much for Manchester United fans to cheer about in their 1-1 draw at bottom of the table Burnley.

A defensive lapse led to the Clarets’ leveller, but United should have had enough to seal the victory at Turf Moor.

Although there were more dropped points for United, one positive was the continued improvement of summer signing Jadon Sancho.

It was a tough start to life at Old Trafford for Sancho, with the 21-year-old struggling to make an immediate impact.

His first full 90 minutes in the Premier League didn’t come until the 4-1 defeat at Watford, the 12th game of United’s campaign.

This lack of game time has also been reflected in his stats, with Sancho scoring just one goal so far this season and failing to chip in with any assists for his United team-mates.

At Burnley, however, Sancho showed glimpses of some excellent form, the form which made United pay the big money for him last year.

According to Opta, Sancho made 58 passes on Tuesday night which was the third highest out of United’s attackers.

He also had three shots at goal, unfortunately failing to hit the target in what was a frustrating night for United’s forwards.

These three shots made up 7% of shots undertaken by United players throughout the match.

Many fans on social media echoed this, suggesting that Sancho is playing better with each passing match.

His growth into the player United fans want to see at their club has been slow, but his work off the ball is not going unnoticed by supporters or pundits.

Former United defender Rio Ferdinand blamed United’s unsettled season for Sancho’s slow start to life at Old Trafford.

Speaking on BT Sports following the 1-1 draw, Ferdinand said: “It’s difficult for a player to come in when there’s thing to work out and you’re in the midst of that as a new player so Jadon Sancho is a player who gets players off balance, play’s one-twos, follows passes, very good in that sense.

“I think some people expected with the price-tag and he’s come to Man United he’s going to be someone marauding from box to box, he is not like that.”