Jadon Sancho EnglandGetty

Sancho follows in Beckham's footsteps as England's first overseas starter in nine years

Jadon Sancho’s rise to prominence continued on Thursday as the England international received his full debut for the Three Lions – and managed a nine-year first in the process.

Sancho has been the rare English player who stepped away from the Premier League as a youngster, aiming to carve out a place for himself with Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga.

That decision has paid massive dividends for the 18-year-old winger, with Sancho taking the German top-flight by storm.

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Sancho has already scored four goals and added a league-leading six assists this season, turning himself from a substitute into a key starter for the Bundesliga leaders.

His early-season performances saw him rewarded in October by becoming the youngest player to make his Three Lions debut in 60 years.

That appearance against Croatia in the Nations League also saw Sancho become the first outfield player since David Beckham to even make an appearance for the Three Lions while not playing for a team in England.

Now Sancho has also become the first outfield player since Beckham in 2009 to start for England while not playing for an English club.

Beckham, then playing for the LA Galaxy, was already an established England veteran having already starred for years at Manchester United and Real Madrid before his move to the United States.

But after waiting a near-decade for one player to do what Beckham did, England is set to have two in their contest against the United States.

Wayne Rooney, who like Beckham headed to Major League Soccer in the twilight of his career, was not handed the start against the USMNT.

However, the D.C. United forward will come on as a substitute and be handed the captain’s armband as he closes out his England career.

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