Jadon Sancho’s fortunes have transformed dramatically since first derby

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Things have dramatically changed at Manchester United for Jadon Sancho since the first Manchester derby of the season.

The 21-year-old came into the 2-0 defeat between the two sides at Old Trafford, in early November, not yet playing the full 90 minutes in either a Premier League or Champions League game for the Reds.

United’s number 25 was an unused substitute in the 5-0 massacre to Liverpool and the 3-0 win at Tottenham.

He was given a three-minute cameo in Bergamo against Atalanta, but was back on the bench for the visit of Pep Guardiola’s side just days later.

With United trailing 2-0 at half-time, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought on Sancho at the interval in an attempt to hopefully inspire a turnaround.

But the Red Devils never threatened a fightback and it was a walk in the park for City.

Incidentally, Sancho’s only full 90 minutes under the Norwegian aside from the Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham came in the ‘baby-faced assassin’s’ last game in charge of the club at Watford.

But after a glimmer of a kickstart to life at United under caretaker manager Michael Carrick with crucial goals at Villarreal and Chelsea, the former Borussia Dortmund has hit lift off on his United career under interim boss Ralf Rangnick.

Ever since the season resumed last month following the winter break, Sancho has took his game to new heights and rekindled the form he showed with great regularity in Germany.

And on Sunday, the former Manchester City youngster will finally play at the Etihad for the first time in his career.

After leaving for Dortmund in 2017, Sancho had no senior appearances under his belt for United’s fierce rivals.

Sancho missed last season’s reunion with his former club in the Champions League quarter-final tie due to injury.

But he will be champing at the bit and eager to impress in Sunday’s derby day clash.

Despite starting against Watford on the bench last time out, Rangnick needs to unleash United’s wing wizard from the very start against the Citizens.

When Sancho entered the fray against City last time out, he looked like a man struggling to shrug off the burden of his £73m (BBC Sport) price tag and both him and his new teammates were struggling to adapt to one and other.

But Sancho’s fortunes have dramatically transformed since the first Manchester derby of the season and since last month, he has found that devastating consistency in his game.

Let’s hope that continues with another influential display on Sunday that puts his former side to the sword.