Man Utd must axe Mason Greenwood this month despite Erik ten Hag's view on striker

Manchester United returned to training yesterday without Mason Greenwood. It is 155 days since United launched an internal investigation into the player after the Crown Prosecution Service dropped its attempted rape, assault and coercive control case.

He continues to work alone while United agonise over his future. He and they remain in limbo. In one sense it is commendable that United are being so thorough in making their decision over what to do with Greenwood but by now they must have examined every possible avenue.

Erik ten Hag, who delivered a strong upturn in United’s fortunes and an end to the United trophy drought last season, is said to be open to the possibility of reintegrating Greenwood at some point. Ask a football manager if they would like a brilliant natural goalscorer to be added to their squad and they tend to answer in the affirmative.

It is not a straightforward situation - here is a player that has been on United’s books since he was six - but if he needs guidance he could always call Nike who dumped Greenwood from a great height when the scandal broke. The PR situation for them was toxic - as it would be for United if he played for them again.