Spend some time in the company of Jadon Sancho and it can be easy to forget he is still only 18 and now one of the most talked-about talents in football.

Only occasionally are there reminders of just how young Borussia Dortmund and England's wonder kid winger actually is.

Like when he discusses the old Wembley, which closed in October 2000 just under seven months after he was born, ahead of his return to the new national stadium to face Tottenham in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“I know what you're talking about,” he smiled proudly when asked about the old ground's Twin Towers. “I've done my history on that!”

Or when Sancho recalls hearing Borussia Dortmund wanted to sign him with a youthful enthusiasm.

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“Dortmund’s a very big club to me,” he said. “On FIFA especially! When we used to have tournaments that team always used to go far.”

But what stands out more than anything is that Sancho possesses a maturity beyond his years to go with all the ability that is turning him into a global star.

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That is why, despite his tender years, Sancho seems happy to take on the responsibility of being a trailblazer for the next generation of British players abroad, is hoping to inspire south London's youngsters and appears totally unaffected by his new life in the football spotlight.

The first display of that came when England starlet Sancho walked into the media centre, flashing cameras capturing his every move, at Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park for his press day last week.

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Before taking his seat and confidently holding court for around half an hour, Sancho made a point of going around the room and greeting each of the 20-odd people who had travelled to Germany to hear from him with a handshake and “nice to meet you.”

It was only a small thing and nobody would have batted an eyelid had he just sat down.

But it was a little, polite demonstration of how humble and grounded he remains despite his rapidly rising stardom.

“I like to do this,” he said of his now trademark gesture, which Dortmund staff have got used to after initially being taken aback.

It also underlined the maturity of the teenager who has had to grow up fast, taking the “hard” decision to move away from home three times before turning 18 for the good of his career.

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Moving to Harefield Academy boarding school while at Watford and then Manchester to join City, were significant steps. Joining Dortmund from City in August 2017 has been life-changing in every sense.

Knowing just how difficult it is to adapt to life abroad, Sancho revealed he was quick to offer his support to Welsh starlet Rabbi Matondo.

Matondo is one a string of youngsters to have been inspired by Sancho's success and followed in his footsteps by joining Dortmund's neighbours Schalke from City for £11m last month.

Sancho said: “The other day I messaged Rabbi (Matondo) and said, ‘I know it’s gonna be hard, make sure you just stay focused because it will be tough’ and he said, ‘thank you’.

“It’s nice to welcome someone.

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“We live local, so I’m going to see him very soon, comfort him and make him feel welcome, because he won’t have his normal friends around him. That’s what I had to go through when I first came.”

Sancho has managed to adjust and progress quickly, establishing himself as a key man for Bundesliga leaders Dortmund.

But he said: “It hasn’t been easy. I’ve had to work for this. Obviously training and just showing what I’m about to the coaches. Doing my skills and what I do best.

“Combining with my teammates and just working hard for the team. I’m just happy that’s it’s all working out and everyone is seeing that for themselves.

“Everyone around me is keeping me grounded and focused. I’m grateful to have the team around me that I have.

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“I’m improving every day and the likes of Marco Reus, Mario Gotze and Axel Witsel are great role models to me and everyone else in the team.

"It’s really nice to have them around telling me what to do, what’s not good, helping me solve things I wouldn’t solve by myself, so I’m happy.”

South London's youngsters now also have a role model in Sancho, who has escaped the distractions he faced growing up in Kennington to show just what is possible when you put your mind to it.

He said: “Things can escalate very quickly and it wasn't right so I had to get out of there and focus on what I love which is football.

“My friends in Kennington, they always ask me, 'can I have a shirt for my little brother or my cousin?' and I always send them.

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“I will never forget where I have come from because I know what it is like growing up in that area and it is not nice especially when you have people around you doing bad things.

“For the kids that are in south London I hope I can give a positive message.

“I'm looking to do some interviews in schools where I can help south London kids just like me. I was where they are once upon a time. That would be nice for them to hear.

“I'm trying to go back to my old schools [Crampton Primary School and Harefield Academy] first.

“Hopefully if things progress I can go to other schools, give that message and give things out from [sponsors] Nike that would be nice for the school like footballs and things like that.”

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When he does, Sancho will no doubt get a taste of just how much hype he is generating back home.

Other than seeing some of the social media clips that go viral after after every display of fancy footwork, assist and goal Sancho produces for Dortmund – and there have been many – he has largely managed to stay away from it.

“Nah I’m not aware at all,” Sancho insisted of the growing hype in England. “I don’t ask questions really, I just stay focused on what I’m doing, and keep going forward.”

But Dortmund are well aware of it. Sancho's media day was the biggest they have ever held for a player and international media.

Meanwhile, they had so many applications they could have welcomed five times as many journalists from around the world as they did to their famous ground, such is the huge and growing interest in Sancho.

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Asked about the craziest thing that has happened to him as his profile has sky-rocketed in the last 18 months, a genuinely shocked Sancho said: “I think all this media. This is all new to me. All crazy. I never knew you could be so known over your success.

“I thought if you are doing well everyone talks obviously, the fans, but I never knew they would take so much interest.”

That has all been sparked by Sancho's spectacular progress in Germany as seeing an English youngster flourish abroad in the way he has has captured the imagination.

It has also fully justified his decision to leave City in the process. Sancho's last club game in England was the FA Youth Cup final second leg with City in April 2017.

But, just 18 months after leaving the Etihad without a single senior appearance to his name, he returns tomorrow as a household name.

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He will be one of the star attractions at Wembley and said of the last-16 first leg clash against Spurs: “It’s a great feeling for me and my family.

"Playing in front of my family is something I’ve always wanted to do since I was a young boy.

“I would love to play in front of my hometown, that’s why I can’t wait for the game.

"I have about 30 tickets. Everyone was messaging me saying, ‘I need a ticket!’. Hopefully I can show London people what I’m about.

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“I’m just happy that I’m playing in the Champions League. It is a big thing for me like it is for every player.

“That’s the biggest stage in the world so I’ve got to keep on working hard and hopefully I will get many more chances.”