'They have to deal with it!' - Ruthless Erik ten Hag fires blunt warning to Jadon Sancho after leaving him out of squad last week but urges winger to stay motivated as 'prizes are decided next May'

The winger was left out of the matchday squad for last week's Premier League opener against Fulham but the Dutchman clarified that his exclusion was not because he was waiting for a transfer to go through and was instead a consequence of the heavy competition for places as well as him having an ear infection. On Thursday, the manager urged the winger to try and stay motivated for when he is eventually called upon.

Sancho was exiled from the United squad last year after calling out Ten Hag on social media after being left out of the trip to Arsenal. He rekindled his career while on loan at Borussia Dortmund but there has been little interest from clubs in a permanent move for the 24-year-old. He was reintegrated into the squad after apparently burying the hatchet with Ten Hag. But hopes of him immediately reviving his Old Trafford career were dashed when he was left out of the starting line-up for the Community Shield and then left out of the squad against Fulham.

"We have to manage it, the attitude of the players is very important. Sometimes they will be disappointed, they have to deal with it, you win as a squad," Ten Hag said. "The prizes are decided next May and until then we need all the players in the squad and highly motivated, that is not an expectation, that is a demand on the squad."

United sold winger Facundo Pellistri to Panathinaikos this week but Sancho is still competing with four other wide players: Amad Diallo, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony. Ten Hag added: "I hope we will have a squad with double positioning and when we go into the season after September 1 [transfer dealine day], that means you can’t select all the players but you need them all throughout the season."

The Red Devils visit Brighton hoping to extend their winning start to the season but are still short in defence. Ten Hag confirmed that Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are unavailable as well as the long-term injured Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro.