Jadon Sancho has been criticised by former Aston Villa ace Lee Hendrieplaceholder image
Jadon Sancho has been criticised by former Aston Villa ace Lee Hendrie | Getty Images
Jadon Sancho is still waiting for his first league goal contribution at Aston Villa
Sancho joined Aston Villa from Manchester United over the summer at the same time as Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott. The winger joined the club on a season-long loan, which unlike Elliott’s deal does not include any obligation or option to buy at the end of the season.
The 23-time England international, who has not played for the Three Lions since missing a penalty in the Euro 2020 final shoot-out with Italy, struggled to replicate his performance levels for Borussia Dortmund at Manchester United between after his £73m move, and has also since had loan spells back at Dortmund and with Chelsea since 2024.
He showed glimpses of promise at both clubs but is still waiting for his first goal contribution in the Premier League for Aston Villa having played 13 times.
Hendrie shares scathing Sancho verdict
Hendrie, who played more than 250 matches for his boyhood club, does not believe Sancho is a player that Emery is a big fan of.
Sancho has started three of Villa’s last four league matches despite his slow start, but according to Hendrie, is only getting game time due to injuries elsewhere.
He told former England boss Sam Allardyce and Natalie Pike on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast: “I’m not so sure [if they will look to keep him permanently]. At times you watch Jadon Sancho and you know there is a player in there.
“I do not think he is an Unai Emery player.I think the only reason why at the moment he is playing in the team is because they are hampered with injuries. And he is having to change things.
“[Against Brentford] I wouldn’t say he was non-existent, but he was too safe for me in the first half until the second half, where it was like Unai said ‘start getting at your player, start producing something’.
Hendrie makes stark Marcus Rashford comparison
Hendrie feels Sancho has struggled to emulate the success of Marcus Rashford, who despite falling down the pecking order with Manchester United, showed real promise during his six month loan spell towards the end of last season.
He explained: “I think playing in that wide area for him, it was like Marcus Rashford when he came to Villa last season, he knew he had to make something happen.
“He had to make people recognise that Marcus Rashford was not finished because he left Manchester United, he knew that there was maybe a Barcelona, which he ended up getting a move to.
“I do not see that with Jadon Sancho and that is where I think, yes he has come in and he has done okay at times, but consistent levels playing in that position are massive in the Premier League.
“I don’t think he’s showed that at Chelsea, when he’s been at Manchester United.”
Sancho is expected to be in the squad for Villa’s upcoming clash with Bournemouth where he’ll hope to prove his doubters wrong and get his first league goal contribution.
So far, the winger’s only goal in 22 appearances across all competitions has been a header in the Europa League against Fenerbahce.
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