If Borussia Dortmund's teen sensation Jadon Sancho wasn't already on the radar of England manager Gareth Southgate, he is now.

The 18-year-old put in a mind-blowing shift in BVB's 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend, his first-ever Bundesliga goal and two assists catapulting the former Manchester City academy product into the frame for a place in the Three Lions' FIFA 2018 World Cup squad.

Think that sounds a touch far-fetched for a hitherto uncapped senior international, who has only appeared nine times in the Bundesliga this season? Think again…

Watch: Sancho reflects on his first Bundesliga goal

A right-footed forward with a penchant for cutting in from the left-hand side in an effortless manner not too dissimilar to Bayern Munich veteran Franck Ribery, Sancho is exactly the kind of player England have been lacking since the heady days of John Barnes and Chris Waddle at World Cup Italia 90, where England lost on penalties to eventual winners West Germany in the last four.

The Londoner can also play on either flank, and has more tricks up his sleeve than Houdini.

"I nutmegged Dortmund captain Marcel Schmelzer in training, and he told me 'don't do that again'," Sancho revealed earlier this season.

"I was always skilful as a youngster, but now I don't do skills as much because the game has got quicker and it's more serious.

"I'm more mature now, I know when to release the ball. I'm not greedy, but I just want to show what I can do."

Sancho's selfless streak was apparent in Dortmund's demolition of top-four rivals Leverkusen. After skipping past four white shirts early in the second half, he opted to play in Mario Götze rather than have a go himself. Although that particular chance didn't produce a goal, his next two forays into opposition territory did.

"Technically Jadon is a fantastic player," enthused Reus, the gleeful recipient of one of two quite brilliant Sancho assists. "He came in and seized his chance. The way he controlled the ball for the third goal was pretty exceptional."

There can be no arguing with that assessment.

Sancho had already made history as the Bundesliga's youngest and Dortmund's first English scorer when he nonchalantly took a long punt from defender Manuel Akanji in his stride and crossed for Maximilian Philipp to extend BVB's lead.

Then came the pin-point pass for Reus' second of the evening, delivered with equal finesse to cap a seminal performance befitting a man long hailed by former Bayern and England midfielder Owen Hargreaves as one of the most gifted players his country has ever produced.

"I actually coached him on his first day in the Manchester City academy - I think it was with the U14s," Hargreaves recalled following Sancho's curveball decision to walk away from the English Premier League and start anew in the Bundesliga last summer, aged 17.

"I remember him coming in, and I said to the manager at the time, 'what's his best position?' And they weren't 100 percent sure. And I said: 'He's scary, whatever he is'.

"Big, tall frame, technically remarkable really. He is an exceptionally gifted young player. Potential to be right winger, left winger, as a number 10, he's got everything. He could be England's best player one day."

Scorer of 20 goals in 35 appearances for the Man City U17s and U19s, Sancho provided a taster of the precocious talent earlier in the year, earning his first Dortmund start against Wolfsburg on Matchday 18 and registering a maiden assist in the 1-1 draw with Hertha Berlin a week later. He played twice more for BVB, before an ankle ligmament injury forced him to miss the next seven league games.

"It's been hard getting back into the team, getting my fitness, but now I feel good," Sancho said after blowing Leverkusen away on only his fourth Bundesliga start. "I can't describe the feeling of finally scoring my first professional goal in front of the Yellow Wall, and getting two assists makes it even better."

For England boss Southgate, it's a welcome case of better late than never. The 47-year-old has been criticised in some quarters for his unadventurous team selections in the run-up to the World Cup and, much like his predecessors, is hardly spoilt for choice in the wide areas.

Southgate might point to the fact that England's previous major tournament wilds cards – with the exception of an 18-year-old Wayne Rooney at EURO 2004 – have backfired miserably, but he should know that Sancho is a different breed altogether.

A proven goalscorer at U17 level forging a career in the league of the reigning world champions, it is only a matter of time before Dortmund's ace in the hole makes the leap to international stardom.