Kolkata: England wonderkid Jadon Sancho will join the squad here but will be available only for the group stages of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. “Jadon Sancho will be joining the squad in Kolkata before England’s opener against Chile, October 8,” a team official said.
The star forward was named in England’s 21-member squad but did not travel with the team as his club Borussia Dortmund did not grant permission. But after English FA’s intervention, the Bundesliga giants have now allowed the 17-year-old to feature for Steve Cooper’s side only for the group stages.
England checked in to the city Tuesday from Mumbai where they were based since their arrival in the country, September 28. They had also played a warm-up game, which they won 3-2 against New Zealand. The Three Lions made it to the quarterfinals in 2011, their best-ever show in the competition.
Meanwhile Cooper said inputs from Stephen Constantine and Ashley Westwood – British coaches working in India – have helped them prepare for the marquee event. He also said that he has sought advice from Teddy Sherringham (ATK coach).
“We have reached out to some people who have worked in India. The India national team manager, Stephen Constantine, has been a real help and I’ve been fascinated at some of the stories that he has had to tell,” Cooper told reporters.
“Steve Coppell (former Kerala Blasters and current Jamshedpur FC coach) has managed out there and I’ve had a great conversation with him too and we have some other staff members, who have worked out here in terms of sports science. Ashley Westwood and Teddy (Sheringham), their inputs have also been valuable,” he added.
Cooper said he is happy with the preparation levels of his squad ever since sealing their World Cup spot by virtue of their performance at the U-17 Euro Finals in May in Croatia where they lost out on the title after a penalty shootout defeat to Spain.
Press Trust of India