Jadon Sancho can lead the line for Manchester United and start the season as a No 9, according to boss Erik ten Hag.
United flew back to England straight after a 3-0 loss to Liverpool in South Carolina to finish both teams’ pre-season tours of the US following goals from Fabio Carvalho, Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas.
United created many chances, but lacked a natural striker to finish them off.
With the Community Shield against Manchester City just five days away — with Rasmus Hojlund out injured and summer signing Joshua Zirkzee still working his way to match fitness — Ten Hag was asked if Sancho could start the season as a makeshift No 9.
The Dutchman said: That is what we can do if we don’t have the availability of Rasmus. Of course, Joshua Zirkzee is coming in.
‘He has started training. But he is not so long in training so it it will take time and he has to adjust to English football and our way of playing.
'Jadon can, of course, play as a striker. He can also play in wide areas but it could be that he is a good option.’
Young striker Ethan Wheatley, of course, is an option for Ten Hag and he has been working closely with new coach Ruud van Nistelrooy.
‘He was probably one of the best strikers we’ve had at the club, as soon as he came in I’ve been trying to take tips off him,’ he said this week.
But one can’t help but think that United look undercooked in forward areas going into the new season.