Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has delivered an encouraging assessment of Jadon Sancho's progress after the winger completed his first full 90 minutes for the club in Thursday's Europa League victory.
Sancho's Growing Influence
The Manchester United loanee made his tenth appearance for Villa in their 2-1 win over BSC Young Boys, demonstrating his creative capabilities despite still awaiting his first goal for the Midlands club. Sancho created six chances during the match - more than any other player on the pitch - though he missed a late opportunity to score when put through by teammate Boubacar Kamara.
Emery acknowledged the 25-year-old's growing influence, particularly noting his performance against the Swiss side. "It was the first match he played 90 minutes. He finished tired, but we need a player with his skills," the Villa boss commented after the match.
Building Towards Premier League Start
Sancho has now started Villa's last three Europa League fixtures against Young Boys, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Go Ahead Eagles, contributing to Evann Guessand's goal in the latter encounter. However, the England international is yet to earn his first Premier League start for the club, having appeared as a substitute in Villa's last four domestic matches against Manchester City, Liverpool, Bournemouth and Leeds United.
The former Borussia Dortmund star's gradual integration into the Villa setup comes after his deadline day loan move from Old Trafford, with Emery carefully managing his minutes as he builds match fitness and adapts to his new surroundings.
Emery's Confidence in Sancho's Development
Despite speculation that Sancho could return to Manchester United in January, with several European clubs reportedly monitoring his situation, Emery's comments suggest he sees the winger as part of his plans for the remainder of the season.
"We need him improving, getting fit and feeling confidence. He had a good match. He had three or four chances to score," Emery explained. "Now he has to be demanding himself to score in those actions. Hopefully he can help us with his qualities during the season. Today I think he did a step forward."
The Villa manager's positive appraisal indicates Sancho remains in his thinking for the crucial months ahead, with the club competing on multiple fronts. Emery's emphasis on the player building confidence and fitness suggests he believes there's more to come from the talented attacker as the season progresses.
