Man Utd greats Rio Ferdinand and Roy Keane agree on Jadon Sancho as reason for change pinpointed

Jadon Sancho has returned to form recently and with perfect timing ahead of Manchester United’s Champions League clash this evening against Atletico Madrid.

It has been a difficult season for United so far, and it has been equally as difficult for Sancho, who has endured mixed form since his big-money move from Borussia Dortmund.

The England international managed just one goal and no assists in his first 18 Premier League appearances. And that’s not the form of a £73million player, but the winger’s play has improved in the last couple of weeks.

During wins over Leeds United and Brighton, and also a draw with Southampton, Sancho has assisted twice and scored.

And Roy Keane believes the adjustment time is natural after making a step up to Old Trafford.

“He’s grown in confidence and is getting the United way,” Keane said on Sky Sports. “He’s getting braver and showing a bit more courage.

“We talk about what he’d done at Dortmund, playing for Dortmund and Man United is completely different. Dortmund are nowhere near as big as Man United.

“It’s those little details that come from confidence and getting that swagger and it’s nice to see because he was getting heavily criticised.”

Another United legend in Rio Ferdinand has also weighed in on Sancho’s recent upturn in form. And according to the former defender, the absence of Mason Greenwood might have helped United’s big-money investment kick on.

“For someone like Sancho, who has been searching for a bit of form and consistency, the fact that Mason Greenwood is no longer available and Martial is no longer available,” Ferdinand said on Vibe With Five Podcast.

“There is not that big threat that I’m probably not going to play next week or he’s got a chance to play somebody else.

“He might have been told behind the scenes, I would argue he probably has been told, you’re going to play now, you’re going to start every game.

“Go make it your own shirt, that confidence lift and shift from looking over his shoulder to no I’m here to play is a big difference. I think that is now why we’re seeing what we’re seeing from Sancho right now.”