Max Dowman is producing the kind of pleasure to when Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene – however there’s nonetheless a protracted technique to go.
That is in accordance with Arsenal legend Ray Parlour, who has had the possibility to run the rule over the 15-year-old rising star this summer season.
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Dowman has massively caught the attention throughout pre-season up to now, making his senior debut for the membership towards AC Milan.
Then, towards Premier League rivals Newcastle, he received a penalty in a 3-2 victory, in a efficiency that Mikel Arteta referred to as ‘particular’, earlier than successful one other spot-kick within the current defeat to Villarreal.
Dowman, who was drafted into first-team coaching at age 14, has been described by Declan Rice as “the most effective 15-year-old within the nation”.
As per talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan, the playmaker may very well be en path to turning into a world-beater in soccer like Lamine Yamal.
Parlour was in Singapore for Arsenal’s opening pre-season fixtures, and was pictured alongside Dowman after he’d made his debut.
Recalling their trade collectively, ‘the Romford Pele’ instructed talkSPORT: “I simply stated nicely achieved as a result of he performed towards AC Milan and I believed he is achieved so nicely when he got here on.
“Are you aware what he stated to me? He stated, ‘Nicely, I may have achieved slightly bit higher in sure elements of the sport.’
“I went, ‘Wait a minute, Max. You are 15-and-a-half. You are taking part in for Arsenal’s first group. Do not count on an excessive amount of. Simply exit and categorical your self, take pleasure in your self.’
“He is such a well-grounded younger man. It is actually humorous as a result of I used to be in a bar within the space of the stadium, and this man and a lady got here up and stated, ‘Ray, it is a good distance from Billericay, is not it?’ Which is across the nook to me.
“I did not know who they was, I believed they have been his supporters. And he went, ‘Oh, I am Max Dowman’s dad.’ He lives within the radius of me, about most likely six or seven miles away. I simply stated, ‘Oh, you should be very proud.’
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“He was in tears when he’d come on. It is a dream come true as a result of they see him all rising up by means of the academies.
“Can he ever get into that first group, particularly this present day, as a result of it is loads tougher to get into that first group now due to the gamers and what number of gamers they have.
“So I used to be very pleased with seeing one other participant come by means of the academy. There is a lengthy technique to go.
“I stated to him, ‘Look, maintain your ft on the bottom, work arduous, that is a very powerful factor. You have not made it but!’
“But when he can maintain going the way in which he is going, he will be the most effective round for English soccer.”
Dowman made his debut for the Arsenal Below-18s at simply 13 years previous, and has scored 20 targets for the facet alongside ten assists.
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The teenager netted 15 occasions in as many appearances within the U18 Premier League final season earlier than making the step-up this summer season.
Dowman may comply with Foden pathway
He follows within the footsteps of fellow Hale Finish graduates Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, each of whom broke by means of final time period.
“Mikel Arteta – he will get them into coaching periods,” Parlour continued. “That is what he is achieved.
“And if he sees sufficient in a participant, he will maintain pushing them in, pushing, pushing, pushing, and giving them alternatives.
“[Then] it is all all the way down to the participant to maintain enhancing, maintain working arduous. And as I stated earlier than, if you happen to can be taught off individuals like Declan Rice and guys like that…It is slightly bit like Phil Foden.
“Why would not he go on mortgage? Pep Guardiola was saying, ‘Wait a minute, he is taking part in with [Kevin] De Bruyne and other people like that. He can enhance by taking part in with David Silva and prime prime prime class gamers in coaching day-after-day, and that is how they nurtured him by means of.
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“So I am positive Max shall be very, very comparable, however he’ll begin a recreation this yr, there isn’t any doubt about it.
Dowman hype just like 15-year-old Rooney
“He is 16 in December, however I can see him taking part in a component this yr.
“I believed he was superb,” Parlour added. “Each time I’ve seen him play, he is made one thing occur.
As a quantity 10. He is obtained that little change of tempo when he drops his shoulder, goes previous somebody together with his left foot. Very, very harmful.
“So I count on him to essentially flourish, and there is a lengthy technique to go.
“I do not need to put an excessive amount of expectation on him, however what I’ve seen up to now, he may very well be a hell of a participant.
“I keep in mind Wayne Rooney and other people like that coming by means of.
“I keep in mind individuals saying when he was 15 within the reserves, unbelievable participant, all that type of stuff. Max may be very most likely comparable.
“However as I stated earlier than, there is a lengthy technique to go and you’ve got simply obtained to maintain working arduous, maintain doing what the coach says and try to be taught off the opposite gamers as nicely.”
