Jadon Sancho is yet to score or assist for Aston Villa since completing his season-long loan move from Manchester United in the summer
Jadon Sancho
Manchester United loanee Jadon Sancho is yet to score and assist for Aton Villa
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Jadon Sancho cut a frustrated figure on Thursday night after being replaced in Aston Villa's 2-1 win over FC Basel in the Europa League.
Sancho, 25, moved to Villa in the summer on a season-long loan following mass speculation surrounding his future. Since moving to Villa Park, the winger has started just five games, with his seven appearances in the Premier League all coming off the bench.
On Thursday night, Sancho started for Unai Emery's team in Switzerland as they sought to secure their place in the Europa League's last 16. The United loanee has now started four games in the competition for Villa, including their last three wins over Maccabi Tel Aviv, Young Boys and Basel.
However, Sancho seemed visibly angry when he came off this week. With Villa leading 2-1 thanks to Evann Guessand and Youri Tielemans, Emery decided to bring Sancho off as part of his triple changes.
Amadou Onana and Emiliano Buendia followed Sancho off, with Boubacar Kamara, Morgan Rogers, and Ollie Watkins coming on. As the substitute was made, TV cameras showed Sancho approach the substitute bench, disappointed with having come off.
After acknowledging Emery, Sancho struck an empty seat in the dugout before taking his seat on the bench. Despite the frustration, Sancho put in a decent shift on Thursday night and was unfortunate not to register an assist for Guessand.
It comes after reports that Villa were still undecided about Sancho and his long-term future at the club. The forward is currently on loan, with his contract at United set to expire at the end of the season.
Jadon Sancho
Jadon Sancho has been a regular squad member for Aston Villa
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Earlier this year, Villa reached an agreement worth £10.5million with Gremio for Brazilian winger Alysson. A medical is set to take place ahead of a January move, with the left-footed right winger adding more competition to Emery's attack.
Previously, it was reported that Villa were already considering making Sancho's move permanent, but his playing time in the Midlands has raised doubts over that. "When Leon Bailey left, it was a moment for us to assess the players we had identified through our scouting," Emery said when asked about the decision to bring in the winger.
"We then had the opportunity to make a signing, and one of the players on our list was Jadon Sancho. He's capable of playing on both the right and left wings, and he provides something different. He's a good player - 25 years old - and I felt he performed very well last year at Chelsea.
"Yes, he had some problems at Manchester United, but during his time at Borussia Dortmund, he performed fantastic. He's also played 25 times for England. He's still young, still hungry, and has the ability to show his skills and qualities.
"Hopefully, we can bring out the best in him here. In the last few years, he's played more on the left, but at Dortmund, he was more often on the right. Here, I see him being able to play in both of those positions."