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Jadon Sancho credits Chelsea pair Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba as early inspirations

Action Images via Reuters
Action Images via Reuters

Jadon Sancho credits Chelsea pair Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba has key inspirations during his most formative years as a young footballer.

The 19-year-old has enjoyed a meteroic rise since swapping Manchester City for Borussia Dortmund two years ago, quickly becoming one of the most sought-after talents in Europe.

A breakout 2018 saw him cement his place in the England setup, having just turned 18, and is expected to make his 11th appearance in Thursday night's 1000th Three Lions match.

Having started his journey in south London, with a Southwark Under-11s team, it was Lampard and Drogba a little further west who most impressed a younger Sancho busy trying out tricks seen on YouTube.

"It was all about learning skills and expressing myself," he told The Independent.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

"I like adapting that to a real game. It makes defending harder because opponents don't think you have those sort of skills.

"It gives you an advantage against some players and luckily enough it's been working out for me."

He added: "Ronaldinho was the main guy I used to watch on YouTube. But I liked Frank Lampard quite a lot and Didier Drogba when they were playing for Chelsea.

"They were the three players I looked up to."

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