JADON’S ON FAST TRACK TO THE TOP

IT HAS been quite a week for Jadon Sancho. Less than 48 hours after signing a new deal with Borussia Dortmund, the 18-year-old was promptly given his first England call-up. Then again, things tend to move fast when you are Jadon Sancho. Blessed with electric pace both on and off the ball, his career is rumbling along at a rate of knots. Last year, Sancho became the first player born in 2000 to play for Dortmund. This week, he became the first 21st century baby to be picked for England. Whisper it, but here is a player who looks bound for stardom. That has been clear this season, as his fine form has fired Dortmund to the top of the Bundesliga. No player in Europe’s top five leagues has set up more goals than Sancho this season. His dainty through-ball to Jacob Bruun Larsen in Dortmund’s 3-0 Champions League win over Monaco on Wednesday was Sancho’s seventh assist in all competitions. That statistic is even more impressive when you consider his five assists in the league have come in just 124 minutes of football. ‘It’s just fantastic, Jadon is a real weapon for us off the bench,’ said team-mate Marco Reus last week. ‘We’re happy to have him as an ace up our sleeve.’ Sancho’s pace and technical ability are obvious, but his relationship with Reus is proof of something more. Technically-gifted players can struggle in Germany, but Sancho has adapted. ‘I don’t want to be a sub,’ said Sancho last week. ‘But if I keep working hard, hopefully I can get in the starting XI.’ Judging by how quickly things are moving for Sancho, he won’t have long to wait.