JADON SANCHO still has plenty to do to become a top player, according to England boss Gareth Southgate.
Sancho’s record of goals and assists for Borussia Dortmund is impressive but he has not been as prolific for the Three Lions.
Jadon Sancho has yet to show his prolific form for EnglandCredit: EPA
Ahead of England’s clash with the Republic of Ireland on Thursday, Southgate said: “Dortmund have some very high-level games: Champions League, Bayern Munich, Leipzig.
“But they also have a lot of games that are probably slightly below the Premier League as well. So for young players it’s a brilliant league to go into.
“They have an outstanding team who are constantly in the top two or three in that league, so they dominate most games and he gets a lot of the ball.
“With us, there’s obviously been some qualifiers with a slightly lower level of opposition and he’s had more of the ball and then he’s played in games like Holland in the Nations League, which is a really high-level game.
“That would have been as big a game as he’s been involved in, frankly. So he’s had a balance of experiences with us, he’s still an extremely young player, still improving.”
Southgate says it is as much down to Sancho, 20, to push on to the next level as it is down to the England set-up to help him progress.
The Three Lions head coach said: “There is competition for places in those areas and there’s always a responsibility on us to get the best out of players.
Gareth Southgate has urged Sancho to push on to the next levelCredit: Reuters
Jadon Sancho scored 17 and assisted 16 in the league last seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“But also there’s a responsibility on them as well. He wants to be a top player. He can be a top player.
“He’s on a good pathway to do that but there’s lots of examples of players that didn’t quite do that as well.
“So there’s a challenge every day to keep improving and get better.”
Harry Kane smashes goals in during England training
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
