Remarkable story of English-born Ben Brereton who faced Lionel Messi with Chile

It may turn out to be a quiz question in years to come: which British-born player was the first player to score on the night England played Scotland in Euro 2020?

The Three Lions played out a drab scoreless draw against Steve Clarke's side at Wembley - a game high on emotion and tension but with little clear-cut goalmouth action.

However, the European Championships are not the only international competition being played out this summer with South America's equivalent - the Copa America - also being staged.

Lionel Messi, Neymar, Luis Suarez and Alexis Sanchez are among the notable stars playing at the tournament, but there is another forward who will also be familiar for many fans of English football.

Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton represented England up to Under-20 level - and starred for his nation at the Under-19 European Championship in 2017, joint top scorer in the tournament which his side won - but is now playing in the Copa America - for Chile.

Brereton's mother, Andrea, moved to England as a child but here roots in the South American nation have allowed Ben to be legible to represent La Roja.

The striker played in the same England youth teams as Reece James, Mason Mount and Aaron Ramsdale, but whilst that trio are involved for the Three Lions at Wembley this month - Brereton is playing 6,000 miles away.

Despite his exploits at youth team level and establishing a strong career for himself as a regular in the Championship - firstly at Nottingham Forest and now at Ewood Park - it did not appear likely his international career would be resurrected.

His first call-up to the Chilean squad came last month for the World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Bolivia, and then he was called up to the squad for the Copa America.

Brereton recently told an interview with The Lancashire Telegraph : "I have been learning keywords. They also provided me with the basic football words, and my understanding with my team-mates has been very good.

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"Everyone has received me very well, both players and coaching staff.

"Obviously, I have talked more with [ Watford defender] Francisco Sierralta, who speaks very good English and plays in the same division as me.

"I have also spoken a lot with [Monterrey defender] Sebastian Vegas, because I was with him the first night, and he also speaks very good English, but, in general, I have got along well with everyone."

Brereton made his debut for the nation in their tournament opener against Argentina, in which his side earned an admirable 1-1 draw, before finding the net for the first time on Friday night against Bolivia - scoring decisively in a 1-0 victory for Martin Lasarte's side.

After the game Lasarte said of the striker who, when playing for Chile, is named Ben Brereton Diaz: "I think that for Ben it was an important occasion, it is difficult to play as a starter in a team where he does not speak the language.

"The team-mates are collaborating a lot. For him, it has been a very motivating situation from the point of view of anxiety.

"The role that Claudio Bravo plays, like others, is that he is close to him, communicating, trying to set guidelines for him on an idiomatic and cultural level as well."

Despite his attributes, Brereton is not a prolific scorer - he has just 18 goals in 145 first-team appearances for Forest and Rovers - but has already begun his tally at senior international level.

He did bag seven goals for Blackburn last season, along with providing four direct assists, and the Stoke-born forward now looks set to be a key figure for the South American nation.