Watford v Manchester United: Did ex-Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho play for the Hornets?

Manchester United face Watford this weekend when they travel to Vicarage Road.

The Red Devils endured a difficult few weeks before the international break and were most recently beaten 2-0 by their local rivals Manchester City.

Their campaign so far has been rather underwhelming considering the calibre of players brought in which included Jadon Sancho.

While the former Borussia Dortmund winger has struggled for form since his arrival at Old Trafford, he will be hoping to feature in this weekend's clash with Watford as it was the Hornets that kick-started his career in football.

Did Jadon Sancho play for Watford?

Jadon Sancho was scouted by Watford at the age of nine when he was spotted playing football in Kennington, South London.

The youngster signed a contract with the youth team and at age 11 he began boarding at the Hornets’ partner school Harefield Academy so he could easily commute to training each day.

Sancho’s first taste of the football life came at such a young age with Watford and he also grew up quickly aftering leaving his family home, but soon departed the club when he moved to Manchester City at the age of 14.

What did Sancho say about his time with the Hornets?

During his successful spell with Borussia Dortmund, Jadon Sancho spoke to Pro Direct Soccer about his ‘wake-up call’ with Watford.

Speaking on their Pavement to Pitch show in 2020, Sancho said: "From Year 7 I went to boarding school at Watford.

“I was fortunate enough they paid for everything and took me out of the area.

“I think that was the toughest year for me because I never left my mum or sisters or anyone. All I knew was South-East London and I didn’t know how to adapt very well so that first year I was getting detention nearly every week, my head was just gone because I was missing everyone.

“Then I had a wake-up call in Year 8 because Watford came to me and said ‘if you don’t fix your attitude we will have no choice but to release you’. So from there I changed.”

The England international’s change of attitude clearly helped him as he soon earned a move to City’s academy where he became a hot prospect.

Two years later Sancho signed for Dortmund in an £8 million deal and became one of the best players in the Bundesliga during his four years in Germany.

Sancho finally returned to Manchester this summer and will be hoping he can turn his season around, starting on Sat as he takes on his former club.