Kolkata: English sensation Jadon Sancho, whose participation in the upcoming U-17 World Cup was under serious doubts after club Borussia Dortmund refused to release him, joined his teammates in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Sancho who was named the ‘Player of he Tournament’ in the UEFA U-17 Euros held earlier this year, did not travel with the team to India after his club refused to let him go citing lack of match fitness.
He has however been released now to play in the group stages of the tournament. “For now, Jadon is here for the group stage and that’s all we are focusing on,” said Amy Hart, media manager of the English team.
The 17-year-old former Manchester City academy graduate is considered to be a future star by many and that includes famous coach Pep Guardiola, who was left clutching his fists on knowing Sancho was leaving Man City for Dortmund this summer.
Sancho has already racked up 15 goals in 11 appearances for the Three Lions and that includes five goals in the U-17 Euros. He joined his teammates in the training sessions four days before their opening match against Chile.
He will be one among the players coach Steve Cooper will trust to bring them out of tough situations in the upcoming matches.
Meanwhile, England will play their group matches at the now transformed Yuba Bharati Krirangan stadium in Kolkata.
The young English team will have to perform exceedingly well if they are to progress ahead from the group of death that also features Chile, Iraq and two time champions Mexico.
Kolkata Stadium gets a new look
The Vivekanada Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) stadium will host the final match of the 2017 U-17 World Cup on October 28.
The West Bengal government has spent over Rs. 100 crore to transform the 33-year-old stadium into nothing less than a museum.
“The renovations at the Salt Lake Stadium have been very good and now it is a stadium that is fit to be host of a FIFA World Cup final,” said Javier Ceppi, Tournament Director of the Local Organising Committee.