Sancho learning from United team-mates

The young winger has been in sparkling form since the turn of the year and is one of three candidates for February's Player of the Month award.

Sancho feels he is in an enviable position as he is able to share the dressing room with renowned winners at the very highest level, such as Raphael Varane, Paul Pogba and Cristiano Ronaldo.

It means he is in an ideal environment to continue his footballing education and this is also relevant to preparation away from the pitch, in addition to honing his skills on it.

"I’m here with a lot of great players and I’m learning from the best," he told club media in an exclusive interview. "You’ve got Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba, Raphael Varane… all these guys have won major trophies and just being in the changing room with them gives you a blessed feeling.

"I’m definitely learning from them, on and off the pitch, especially in terms of their recovery and how they make themselves better. I’m taking in all the information I can and trying to put it into my game."

Recovery is clearly an important factor in modern football. Following a tough month for the England international, and his exertions in the Wanda Metropolitano against Atletico Madrid in the 1-1 draw in the Champions League, he started on the bench for the visit of his former club (youth level) Watford.

Although he came on to help in the pursuit of a breakthrough against the Hornets, the absence of a midweek fixture should ensure the 21-year-old is raring to go against another of his old employers in Manchester City on Sunday.

When asked how useful rest and recuperation is for Premier League footballers, he replied: "For sure, I feel like that’s very important, especially when you’ve got games back to back. You need your legs and especially when you’re a winger – I need to get up and down the pitch.

"I definitely need my legs to recover as quickly as possible to go again. It’s definitely important and I’m just trying to be a better version of myself."