Gareth Southgate sends message to Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

England manager Gareth Southgate has admitted that Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho can still force his way back into the national team set-up.

The 23-year-old, who hit back at United manager Erik ten Hag after being left out of the squad for the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal just over a week ago, has not been named in the England squad for almost two years.

His last appearance for the Three Lions was back in October 2021. That, of course, meant that he missed out on a place in Southgate's squad for last year's World Cup and his hopes of being recalled for next summer's European Championship in Germany, should England qualify, are already in serious jeopardy.

His United future is also in doubt following his decision to hit back at Ten Hag in a social media post. Nevertheless, Southgate, who will watch his side take on Scotland in a friendly at Hampden Park on Tuesday evening, has refused to rule out the prospect of Sancho reclaiming his place in the squad at some point in the future, suggesting that winning his place back could rekindle his career. READ MORE: Sir Jim Ratcliffe issues United takeover update "I think that's the challenge for him now," said Southgate, speaking ahead of the clash with Scotland. "It's been the best part of a couple of years since we worked with him, it's difficult to say exactly the position that he finds himself and where he is with it all. "But for every player that's not with us, there is always an opportunity if they can seize the form and have the (right) level of performances." Sancho, who has earned 23 senior caps for England, scoring three goals and grabbing seven assists in the process, has featured in three of United's opening four Premier League fixtures this season, appearing as a