Erik ten Hag reveals crucial Jadon Sancho tweak and backs Man Utd man to hit goal trail

Erik ten Hag has backed Jadon Sancho to become a prolific goalscorer in the Premier League after the England star fired Manchester United to victory against a struggling Leicester on Thursday night.

Sancho scored his second goal of the season with a cool finish in the first half at the King Power Stadium. And that was enough to sink a Leicester side devoid of confidence.

The former Borussia Dortmund winger, who netted a fine goal in the win over Liverpool, has made five appearances so far this season. He has played on both wings with Anthony Elanga the man chosen to play on the opposite flank.

He has already looked transformed after a difficult first season at Old Trafford. The £73m arrival last summer only managed three goals in 29 Premier League appearances last season. But he has neared that tally already, with Ten Hag hopeful there is more to come from the 22-year-old.

“I think he had quite a good pre-season,” the Dutchman said.

“He understands now he has to invest in the physical (side) and that is what he did. Now he gets the reward and that is what he has to bring.

“I’m sure this is just the start for him. With his potential, there’s much more room for improvement.

“Then he can be even more important and contribute with his creativity, with scoring goals and assists, and also with the defending part he can be even more important.”

Ten Hag has revealed that he has asked for more physical output from Sancho, who was dominating teams in the Bundesliga.

Asked if he believes Sancho can become a prolific goalscorer, Ten Hag said: “Yes, I think he can.

“He has the capabilities and he did it also in a different league, but this is the Premier League.

“The intensity is higher so he has to adapt to that, mentally, the physical (side). The capabilities are there, the skills.”

Ten Hag points to a ‘squad raising’

Cristiano Ronaldo started from the bench again, as Ten Hag named an unchanged side for a third straight match. But despite a third straight victory Ten Hag was reticent to say they had turned a corner.

“Maybe that is too quick to say that (we have turned a corner),” Ten Hag said after United’s latest win. “We are happy with it, that is sure.

“You can see there is raising a team, a squad raising, they are sticking together.

“They are supporting each other, they fight for each other, they cooperate – that is important – and if you do that you get the right scores and we did that the last three games.

“Now we have to step up further, we have to improve further. Sunday, a really good game, a really good test, so we are looking forward.”

Sancho: ‘We stuck to game plan’

Matchwinner Sancho said United had followed out Ten Hag’s instructions to the law.

“We stuck to the game plan,” Sancho told MUTV.

“We knew Leicester would come out fighting in the second half, and as you could see, they had a few chances towards the end

“Leicester’s not easy but the team stuck at it, and we got the three points at the final whistle.”

United had earlier announced winger Antony had become their fifth summer signing. United paid £86m for the Brazilian, who has signed a five-year contract with the option of an additional year.

The winger is expected to be involved at Old Trafford against Arsenal on Sunday.