Alexis Sanchez has trained with his Manchester United team-mates in the USA for the first time, after landing in Los Angeles and joining the squad for Tour 2018, presented by Aon.
Alexis signed autographs for supporters on his way out to training at UCLA.
“His arrival is a boost for the squad and this pre-season training will be good for him,”said Denis Irwin during the live training show on MUTV. “Alexis came to the club in January and he knows the Premier League, but this is a chance to get to know his new team-mates even better. You can't beat pre-season!
“Don't forget he has been working at the Aon Training Complex as well, so he is not rusty, he is up to speed, and that leads me to think he will play a part against San Jose Earthquakes.
“We need his experience as well up top. With Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford not out here after the World Cup, we are a bit thin on the ground in terms of experienced strikers and I have no doubt that Alexis will play up the middle at some points against San Jose Earthquakes.”
Bryan Robson has tipped Alexis to produce his best form after enjoying a deserved rest in the summer.
“He is a top-class player, there is no doubt about that and I think he is a great signing,”Robbo told us. “He didn't play to the top of his form when he first came but I think, maybe, he was trying too hard to impress, not playing his natural game. That will all settle down. He knows the manager, he knows how the manager wants to play and I think we will see a really classy Sanchez this season.”
Mourinho has already suggested Alexis will appear against San Jose Earthquakes in Santa Clara, telling MUTV: “When he lands, he has to play, because he trained with us for five days before we departed to LA and we left one fitness coach behind with him. Of course, it is individual training but, when he arrives, he has to play. If he is coming, he has to play.”
Previously, at a press conference in the US, the boss also discussed the Chilean in his plan for the start of the Premier League campaign. “It is important to work with Juan Mata, Alexis and Anthony Martial, who we think are the players we have for the start of the season.”