Jadon Sancho has had a difficult start to life at Aston Villa after joining the club on loan from Manchester United this summer.
Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer believes he needs to get his attitude right to revive his career.
Villa manager Unai Emery introduced Sancho as a substitute against Manchester City last weekend, only to take him off later on.
The 25-year-old was sent on to replace the injured Emiliano Buendia on the half-hour mark, but Evann Guessand replaced him with 16 minutes remaining.
Shearer has little sympathy for the winger and believes he needs to prove himself to Emery to turn things around.
He said (h/t the Mirror): “I don’t know what’s going on with Jadon Sancho in terms of his training or his life, but he’s got an opportunity at Villa now.
“If it doesn’t work out here, people will look back and say, ‘Hang on, you’ve been given so many opportunities’. You can only have so many.
“I guess it is humiliating when you’re put on as a substitute and then taken off again. It hasn’t worked out yet for him, but there’s only one way around it, and that is hard work.
“Get your head down, get your attitude right, and if you do that, things will turn around.”
Sancho secured a loan move to Villa on transfer deadline day in September. He has made only two substitute appearances in the Premier League, totalling just 52 minutes.
Emery is a top manager who makes his team selections on merit. Shearer is spot on when he says that Sancho needs to improve his attitude.
The former Borussia Dortmund star had a public fall-out with former United boss Erik ten Hag in September 2023.
The winger hit back at Ten Hag after he cited his poor performances in training for dropping him from the squad.
Sancho refused to apologise for his behaviour, which led to his exclusion from first-team training and subsequent loan move to Dortmund.
He is a gifted player, but his poor attitude is a major issue.
Stats from Transfermarkt.
