Wayne Rooney famously made his Premier League debut as a teenager and never looked back, and now there is a new young star emerging onto the scene.
On Saturday, Arsenal’s 15-year-old forward Max Dowman made his Premier League debut as the second youngest player to feature in the club’s history. Dowman won a late penalty to continue the growing excitement around him at the Emirates Stadium.
Pundit Jamie Redknapp said Dowman has the potential to be ‘one of the best English players we’ve ever seen’, comparing him to Rooney’s Premier League debut in which he played on the opposing side.
Max Dowman in action in Arsenal friendly vs Villarreal
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
And now Rooney has joined the praise for Dowman, offering advice while revealing the hype that has been building in academy circles over Arsenal’s latest debutant.
Wayne Rooney says Arsenal’s Max Dowman will have ‘massive future’ after Premier League debut
Speaking on his BBC Sport podcast, Rooney said: “To play at that age in the Premier League is crazy. I know I played when I was young, but I think he’s like 150 days younger than I was or more.
“It’s just refreshing to see a young lad get his opportunity, and, even though he’s playing for Arsenal, every time he cuts inside you go ‘shoot’. You want him to put it in the top corner.”
Minutes played 27
Touches 17
Shots 2
Dribbles 1
Fouls won 2
Pass completion 2/2
Max Dowman statistics vs Leeds. (Source: WhoScored).
Rooney’s son Kai is the same age as Dowman and represents Manchester United, so the former England man is well aware of Dowman’s progress through the Arsenal age groups.
“You can see his future is so bright, he is going to have a massive future,” Rooney said. “Everyone you speak to in football, the same name keeps coming back: Max Dowman.”
Wayne Rooney offers advice to Max Dowman, ‘enjoy it’
Rooney is well placed to offer Dowman advice on keeping his feet on the ground after his electric start to life in professional football at Everton.
“The first thing you’ve got to do is just stay around your family and close friends,” he said. “Listen to them because there are going to be people out there who are trying to be your friend or trying to get in touch with you – some for good reasons, some for not so good reasons.
Newcastle v Everton
Photo by Chris Lobina/Offside via Getty Images
“Max Dowman looks like a very level-headed lad from everything I’ve seen and you hope he manages to deal with it and understands what’s coming his way very soon.”
“[He needs to] enjoy it. I’m sure we’re going to see so much of him, so much of his talent and goals and assists, whatever.
“Alan Stubbs always said to me years ago, ‘make sure you enjoy it because it goes very quickly’. When you’re young, you don’t think that or you sometimes forget that, but enjoy it and make the most of it.”