Sancho is surprise choice for January on Man United's official 2024 calendar

Manchester United fans turning to the first page of the club's official 2024 calendar were greeted by a picture of someone who has been banished from the squad since September.

Jadon Sancho was the surprise choice for January's player picture given he might not even be a United player come the end of the month.

The England winger, who cost United £73million when he signed in 2021 but has failed to make much impression at Old Trafford, was sent to train with the academy teams by Erik ten Hag.

It followed a social media post by Sancho in which he accused Ten Hag of lying over his level of performance in training after he was dropped from the squad for the defeat at Arsenal on September 3.

'I will not allow people saying things that is completely untrue, I have conducted myself very well in training this week… I've been a scapegoat for a long time, which isn't fair!' He wrote on his social media channels.

On September 14, United announced Sancho would train 'away from the first team group pending resolution of a squad discipline issue.'

The 23-year-old hasn't played for them since and it emerged he was training and eating in the academy facilities at United's Carrington training ground, away from the first team squad.

With little prospect of a rapprochement with Ten Hag, United are expected to try and offload Sancho this month with the transfer window open.

Sancho, who is still earning £300,000-week at United, partied with dancer and celebrity choreographer Cocainna last week.

The official United calendar, which has already been reduced from £10.99 to £6.60 on the club's online store, also features defenders Raphael Varane (May) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (September).

Both players are able to talk to overseas clubs as of January 1 with a view to a summer transfer once their contracts expire.

Mail Sport revealed United have decided not to activate a 12-month extension on Varane's current £340,000-a-week contract and will instead seek to negotiate new terms with the French defender - presumably on lower wages.

Sancho and Varane also appear on the front cover of the calendar, alongside Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Marcus Rashford.

February's player is £60million summer arrival Mason Mount, with left-back Luke Shaw the man for March, followed by Casemiro in April.

After Varane for May, it's goalkeeper Andre Onana for June, £72m striker Rasmus Hojlund for July and Alejandro Garnacho in August.

Wan-Bissaka occupies the September page, with Lisandro Martinez, Fernandes and Rashford seeing out 2024.

United endured a miserable New Year after they were beaten 2-1 at Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.

Their ninth Premier League loss of the season left them seventh in the table, some nine points off Arsenal in fourth spot and 11 shy of leaders Liverpool.

Ten Hag's side return to action in the FA Cup third round away to League One side Wigan Athletic on January 8.