Arsenal and England starlet Max Dowman produced a moment of magic on international duty this week. Appearing two years above his age group against Northern Ireland Under-17s, Dowman showed exactly why Gunners ace Declan Rice has talked him up as the best 15-year-old in the country.
Dowman is increasingly being talked about as a future star at Premier League and international level. The youngster, who can play in attacking midfield or out wide, was turning out for Arsenal's Under-18s at the age of 13, scored in the UEFA Youth League at 14, and began training with the first team earlier this season.
There was even talk of manager Mikel Arteta promoting him to the senior matchday set-up amid a wave of attacking injuries. Although it now looks like he will have to wait for his first-team breakthrough, Dowman continues to pull up trees in the younger age groups.
He was again called up by England's Under-17s for the current international break, and his goal against Northern Ireland on Tuesday was a thing of beauty.
Receiving the ball while surrounded by three players, Dowman was both elegant and electric as he darted inside from the right wing, beat another defender once he was in the box, and slid the ball under goalkeeper Finn McDonnell.
Dowman was the only England 15-year-old who played any part in the game. And with that stunning contribution, he showed exactly why one of the Gunners' key men has been raving about him.
Rice told the BBC: "Max is the best 15-year-old in the country. I have had so many texts about Max recently where people have watched him and said: ‘Wow, what a talent’. So he is one to watch out for.
"I think, at 15, there is still such a long way to go. You can be the best in the country at 15, but it doesn’t necessarily mean at 18 you are going to be. So you need to be hungry, keep working, keep pushing. I speak with Max a lot and he knows that. And he has got such a good family around him. He is unreal."
Arteta promoted teenage stars Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly to the Arsenal first team earlier this campaign. And all the suggestions are that Dowman could be next in line.