England legend John Barnes has urged caution with hyping Borussia Dortmund whizkid Jadon Sancho.

The 18-year-old has blossomed at Dortmund this season and has recently earned three England caps.

But Barnes warns Sancho must not be pressured to succeed like Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were in the past.

"He has got great potential, we need to give him time to develop and improve and don't get carried away," Barnes told Goal. "Don't put too much pressure on him and say he is going to be the next best thing. It was the same with Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

"We say how great they are and then they don't realise their potential because we put too much pressure and expectation on them. He is a young player, who is doing well at the moment so let's not go overboard with saying how fantastic he is. Of course, he has great potential but let's give him time.

"He wasn't playing at a top English team so that's why he left to play for Dortmund. A German team, unfortunately in England we are not giving players like Sancho a chance in the top teams. He has to go abroad to do that. It has worked well for him.

"I would like to see top English players in top English teams but that isn't going to happen. It is an option to go abroad. It was a gamble, but it has worked out well for him."