Manchester United may have gone to great lengths to make sure their players didn't suffer jet-lag after flying in to Los Angeles at the start of the club's US tour, but Jadon Sancho didn't need any help getting to sleep.

Confidential reported on Thursday how Sir Dave Brailsford's marginal gains approach had played a part in United designing a meticulous plan for the players which included them wearing tailored compression garments, having clearly defined eating and sleeping windows, and even getting the right amount of natural sunlight to minimise the effects of the 11-hour flight to California and eight-hour time difference.

But it's understood that Sancho was fast asleep and snoring within half an hour of the club's Virgin Atlantic flight taking off from Manchester, and only woke when the plane touched down at LAX.

Despite concerns that Sancho would struggle to sleep once the squad arrived at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, it's understood that he got his head down for another eight hours.

Kit man could be victim of job cuts

Jadon Sancho got plenty of sleep during Manchester United's journey to their pre-season base

Kit man Alec Wiley could be the latest victim of Ineos job cuts at United as the club's new co-owners continue to shed staff as part of a money-saving exercise.

Mail Sport revealed recently that long-serving physios Richard Merron and John Davin, who had been at the club for more than two decades, were leaving as part of an overhaul of the medical department. A number of academy coaches are being let go, and the Ineos cull will extend to virtually every department at the club.

Wiley has been United's kit man since Albert Morgan retired after Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down in 2013.

United fast-tracked through LAX

United took just 29 minutes to clear immigration and customs at LAX airport after landing in Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon.

That's in stark contrast to other Premier League clubs – including Arsenal, United's opponents at the SoFi Stadium on Saturday – who have taken significantly longer getting through the red tape on their arrival here in California.

United touched down at 5.20pm local time after an 11-hour flight from Manchester before their plane taxied to a private terminal at the airport. The 29-man squad plus coaching team and support staff breezed through with their baggage in less than half an hour. The two team buses then cut through the rush hour traffic with motorcycle outriders from LAPD, arriving at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills at 6.30pm.

Erik ten Hag and his players ate at the hotel before grabbing some much-needed sleep before getting up for an extra long training session at the University of California's campus in LA on Thursday.

Bosses out in force for training

The club's leadership group were out in force for the opening training session at UCLA as United stepped up their pre-season preparations in the US.

Avram Glazer was joined by Ineos sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford, United's new sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.

Glazer has been a regular visitor to United's training camps in the US and visited the team's HQ at Pingry School in New Jersey before Ten Hag's side faced Arsenal at the MetLife Stadium last summer.

Brailsford, Ashworth and Wilcox are overseeing their first tour at United following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1.3billion investment. Brailsford was seen at United's hotel later in the day taking a wrong turn into the five-star resort as he tried to find his bearings on Day Two of the tour.

Record sales for away kit

United's new navy blue away kit is enjoying record sales following its launch this week.

Adidas have typically tried to tap into the club's heritage when designing the new strip with three lighter shades running around the collar representing the Irk, Medlock and Irwell rivers which cross close to where Old Trafford meets the city of Manchester.

A statement that accompanied the launch read: 'We have the honour every season to resonate with fans via special nods to their club and culture – and for the Manchester United away kit this season, it's the city itself,' they said. 

'Through features such as the collar and a nostalgic design that speaks to beloved design codes, we champion elements of the city and club's history, finished with premium modern details to stand out on the streets, in the stands and on the pitch.'

Influencers in action

It's a sign of the times that United and kit sponsors Adidas arranged a football match for social media influencers at UCLA on Thursday.

A number of first-team players and staff were at the event which featured Steve Bartlett, well known for appearing on Dragons Den and his podcast Diary of a CEO. 

Bartlett gave a talk to United players about investment opportunities at the end of last season after being invited to the training ground by coach Steve McClaren.