Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Solanke: Young players just and do well - look at Sancho he’s leading the way for us DOM SAYS DAYS OF PICKING UP WAGES FOR NOTHING ARE OVER
DOMINIC SOLANKE believes Jadon Sancho has become a trailblazer for a whole generation of English talent.
Solanke, 21, says Sancho’s move to Borussia Dortmund has “affected everyone” because young players will now travel anywhere to play rather than stay beneath the radar at big clubs.
England Under-21 striker Solanke left Liverpool, where he was out in the cold, to join Bournemouth in a £19million switch. Nathaniel Clyne has taken the same path in a loan move.
The likes of Solanke, Sancho and Callum Hudson-odoi (right, inset) – who looks set to join Bayern Munich from Chelsea – are ready to back themselves by making brave career choices rather than stay on Easy Street, picking up wages without playing.
Solanke said: “Sancho is doing so well in Germany and a lot of players would like to follow his path. What he has done, getting into the England team at such a young age, will influence a lot of young players.
“What he has done has affected everyone. When one young player sees another young player doing what he has done, they think they can do it as well.
“Every footballer, especially when young, just wants to play.
“You want to show what you can do so I think you have to wait for the right time. I am looking forward to playing here.”
Solanke has already proved himself to be one of English football’s best young prospects but his has been a long, winding road already. Having started at Chelsea, he was loaned to Vitesse Arnhem and then became a bitpart player at Liverpool for 18 months.
But Solanke also knows that if he plays regularly in the Premier League then he will almost certainly get his chance with England, having done so well at Under-21 level.
The talent is definitely there and Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe’s commitment to young, English players is one of the reasons Solanke was ready to swap Anfield for the Vitality Stadium.
Solanke said: “I think the manager is fantastic and Bournemouth is a fantastic club. Those two mixed together definitely influenced my decision. I am happy to be here and can’t wait to get started.
“I’ve got a good relationship with the staff at England. They’re always looking to help me as well. I’m looking forward to playing here and then seeing what I can do with England.”
But Solanke, who follows a route taken by former Redturned-cherry Jordon Ibe, has no bitterness towards Liverpool despite his lack of first-team action at Anfield.
“It’s always difficult at a club like Liverpool, especially given how well they are doing,” he said.
“I learnt a lot there and now I’m hoping to use it here.
“It’s normal at every club that if the starting XI is doing well then they should carry on playing.
“It has been tough. There have been good and negative times but I think it is all about playing. When you are not playing you are not really happy so in the future I want to play as much as I can.
“You’ve always got something to prove. I’m looking forward to being here and hopefully getting the chance to show everyone what I can do.”