Wayne Rooney praised Jadon Sancho’s “excellent” performance off the bench as the Manchester United loanee helped Aston Villa defeat his former club Chelsea to stay within touching distance of the Premier League summit.
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has lauded Jadon Sancho’s impactful substitute appearance during Aston Villa’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Saturday.
Sancho, currently on a season-long loan at Villa Park, faced the club where he spent the previous campaign.
Despite Chelsea declining a £25 million permanent move for the winger last summer, Sancho proved his quality at Stamford Bridge, helping Unai Emery’s side maintain their historic run of 36 points from a possible 39.
Rooney, speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day, highlighted the 25-year-old’s ability to change the game’s tempo despite limited minutes this season.
“Jadon Sancho came into this as well, and we haven’t seen much of him this season, but I thought he was excellent when he came on,” Rooney said.
He praised Sancho’s directness, stating he was “getting the ball, driving with the ball and committing the Chelsea defenders” to create space for his teammates.
Sancho’s future remains a primary talking point as his Manchester United contract approaches its final months.
While United hold an option to extend his deal by one year to avoid losing him on a free transfer, his immediate focus remains on Villa’s title ambitions.
The forward will have another opportunity to impress on Tuesday night when high-flying Aston Villa travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Premier League leaders Arsenal.