Gareth Southgate explains “big call” to name Jadon Sancho in senior England squad

Gareth Southgate says the “big call” to select Borussia Dortmund teenager Jadon Sancho aligns with England’s current philosophy.

The 18-year-old winger is enjoying a sensational start to 2018/19 and has been rewarded with a first Three Lions call-up.

His inclusion nonetheless raises eyebrows but Southgate feels his place and that of Derby County midfielder Mason Mount is well-deserved and with a number of key players absent through injury it gives both an opportunity to stake a claim.

“It’s been a brave decision by him to play in the Bundesliga, but he is playing in front of big support every week. He’s dealing with that and excelling,” he told reporters

“[Sancho and Mount] are both in their formative stages but we think they can play in the group. It’s a big call, but it aligns to what we’ve done in the last 18 months. We have some injuries in midfield, so there’s an opportunity there.

“We think there are some exciting young players we have been tracking, and it’s a great opportunity for us to look at them.

“We are always conscious of the balance on how quickly we put those players in, but we think they are performing well with their clubs, they’re confident players and we get an understanding of how they and we work.”

The rise of Sancho

A former Watford and Manchester City youth player Sancho, born and raised in London, swapped the Etihad Stadium for Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2017.

After inheriting Ousmane Dembele’s No.7 jersey, he became the youngest Englishman to register a goal in the Bundesliga when he found the net against Bayer Leverkusen earlier this year.

To date, he’s featured across 21 matches for the senior side, and has been involved in 14 goals: scoring twice and creating a further 12 – with five of those coming in this season’s league campaign.

England’s upcoming games against away to Croatia (October 12) and Spain (October 15) could see the Londoner earn his first international cap.

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