The ex-Dortmund star is yet to justify his price tag at Old Trafford, but the revival of his team-mate should offer him hope for the future
Manchester United's 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest was an encouraging match for many players. Anthony Martial showed his class after returning to full fitness while Antony sliced his way through the Tricky Trees as he both scored and assisted in the same Premier League game for the first time.
Over on the left flank, though, Jadon Sancho still looked like a player who does not believe in himself. He played some nice passes in midfield and went on a few interesting runs, but he often looked afraid to take the next step.
Of three dribbles he attempted, only one was a success. He looked incapable of beating defenders and only mustered two shots on goal. One of those flew over the bar, the other was comfortably saved by Keylor Navas.
Sancho has started each of United's last four games, but has made only one notable contribution in that time, his assist for Scott McTominay in the win over Everton.
In total, he has scored just five goals in all competitions this season, and was left out of the team for around nine weeks after Erik ten Hag expressed concern with his fitness levels, opting to not take him on the training camp to Spain during the World Cup.
He looks a shadow of the dynamic, productive player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
However, don't write him off just yet. There are plenty of examples of players who have overcome difficult spells to prove their worth for United, and Sancho only needs to look to Marcus Rashford as proof that you can turn things around in the space of a year.
Getty ImagesBattling through shoulder pain
In the midst of Rashford's best ever season, it is easy to forget that only one year ago he too was being widely criticised, with many believing his days at Old Trafford were numbered.
He had played much of the 2020-21 campaign with a shoulder injury, taking injections and painkillers to keep playing before eventually opting for surgery.
And, like Sancho, he had endured a difficult summer after missing his penalty in the Euro 2020 final shootout against Italy.
The shoulder surgery kept him out of action until mid-October, and his return to the team unfortunately coincided with the downfall of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
He also had to re-adapt to a team that had completely altered its style of play in order to accommodate a 36-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesFew goals and terrible body language
His first start was the horrific 5-0 defeat at home to Liverpool, his second the 4-1 thrashing at Watford which proved to be Solskjaer's last game in charge.
Of the 31 Premier League matches he was available for after completing his recovery, Rashford started only 13.
One moment in particular appeared to sum up his miserable plight. In an FA Cup tie against Aston Villa, a Mason Greenwood shot was spilled into his path, but Rashford made no attempt to pounce on the loose ball, instead complaining to his strike partner that he had not passed to him.
He was pilloried online by fans and pundits, including Steve McLaren = now one of his coaches at United – who pointed to his negative body language.
Rashford made only eight starts in all competitions after that match against Villa, and ended the season with a miserable five goals in all competitions and one assist while United recorded their worst points total in 30 Premier League campaigns.
Getty ImagesEnjoying the form of his life
Contrast that with his form this season, in which he has scored 27 goals and has 10 assists.
He has already more goals than in any other campaign and, once he returns from injury, will have plenty more games to add to his total.
The club are now desperate to tie him to a new contract, although Rashford and his representatives hold all the cards as his current deal expires in 2024 and his stock has never been higher.
Rashford's resurrection has been remarkable given how low he stooped last season. But looking at his career, it should not have been that surprising.
Since breaking into the first time in February 2016 with his stunning brace against Midtjylland until the end of the 2020-21 season, he had 143 goal contributions, averaging 23 per season.
The 2021-22 campaign was a blip in an otherwise outstanding career.
Getty Images'Football is 95% your mentality'
Rashford also made a huge effort to get himself right, both mentally and physically, again.
After the Euro 2020 final defeat, he sought the help of a psychologist, and while many of his team-mates were enjoying their summer breaks last year, he headed to Nike's headquarters in Oregon for an intense training plan, working with a team of fitness coaches and sports scientists.
He worked on his explosivenes, practising sprints on an elevated 200-metre track and running with bungee cords strapped to his back.
He also worked closely with Ten Hag and his coaching staff, particularly Benni McCarthy, on his finishing.
"Football is probably 95 percent your mentality," Rashford said in February. "That gives you the baseline to perform. There are a lot of players that have ability – that’s why they play at the top level. But what sets them apart is the mentality.
"I’m concentrating a lot more on keeping myself in that headspace and it’s needed in order to win games and trophies."