Rooney: Everyone in football talking about Dowman

Wayne Rooney highlights the potential of young Arsenal midfielder Max Dowman, suggesting betters should consider his impact on future matches, as his impressive debut signals a rising star in the Premier League.

Wayne Rooney says teenager is the talk of the footballing world and destined for a "massive future" following his impressive debut. Attacking midfielder Dowman became the to represent Arsenal after coming on as a substitute aged 15 years and 234 days during Saturday's over Leeds. The schoolboy capped an eye-catching 26-minute cameo by earning a late penalty, which was converted by .

Rooney made his debut aged 16 in 2002 and was five days short of his 17th birthday when he briefly became the Premier League's youngest goalscorer by registering a stunning late winner against Arsenal. "To play at that age in the Premier League is crazy," the former captain said of Dowman, , The "Wayne Rooney Show." "I know I played when I was young, but I think he's like 150 days younger than I was, or more. "For Max and his family and friends, I'm sure they're all living in a dream and a fairytale and it probably hasn't hit home yet. But you can see his future is so bright, he is going to have a massive future."

"Everyone you speak to in football, the same name keeps coming back: Max Dowman." Dowman's teammate remains the youngest player in Premier League history after featuring in Arsenal's 3-0 victory at in September 2022 at the age of 15 years and 181 days. Speaking of the challenges of being thrust into the limelight, Rooney, now 39, said: "It's surreal. It's so strange that one minute you're in the youth team and the next you're in the first-team dressing room with some of your heroes. "It's something you really need to get used to quickly because it can be overwhelming. "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."

Wayne Rooney says Arsenal teenager Max Dowman is the talk of the footballing world and destined for a "massive future" following his impressive Premier League debut.

Espn United Kingdom