Paul Scholes believes there is no question new Arsenal star Max Dowman should go to the World Cup and says there is not another English player with his ‘ability’.
Dowman has been named as a potential bolter in England’s squad for this summer’s World Cup after his breakthrough at the Emirates Stadium.
The midfielder became the second youngest player in Premier League history when he made his Arsenal debut at the start of the season, with only teammate Ethan Nwaneri playing in the competition at a younger age.
Mikel Arteta has been understandably cautious with Dowman’s game-time given he is still at school but there have still been calls for Thomas Tuchel, who names his final World Cup squad on May 22, to take the Arsenal wonderkid to the tournament.
Get ready for the World Cup
Get previews of every single team at the World Cup sent directly to your inbox, featuring the players to look out for, games you shouldn’t miss and Metro’s big England predictions. Don’t miss out, sign up here.
Manchester United legend and ex-England midfielder Scholes is firmly in that camp, insisting he would pick the ‘unbelievable’ and ‘brilliant’ teenager.
Speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Scholes, who earned 66 England caps, said: ‘How good is Max Dowman? He’s unbelievable.’
‘Do you think he should be in the England squad for the World Cup? Look at Spain with Lamine Yamal… get him in!
‘We’ve not got a player like Dowman. I think Thomas Tuchel is the type of manager who might take him. Did you see his goals for the England U20s?’
Tuchel is blessed with options in midfielder and in the attacking areas, with the likes of Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford and Morgan Rogers all vying for a spot at the World Cup.
Asked who Dowman should be picked ahead of, Scholes added: ‘Anyone, I don’t care. I think he’s brilliant. Spain would do it and Spain are successful.
‘I would take him all day long, I don’t think there’s an English player with the ability he’s got. He floats past people.’
Scholes’ former teammate Rio Ferdinand also believes Dowman should be part of England’s World Cup squad that travels to the United States this summer.
Asked about the impact Dowman can have for club and country over the next few months, Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: ‘I think he has to go [to the World Cup]. I think he’s special.
‘He’s doing the same thing he did through every age group in the Premier League against grown men. He’s been doing the same thing in training against Arsenal players who are top of the Premier League.
‘Even the players there are going “wow”, even the manager is saying he’s not seen anything like this from a player so young. It’s crazy.
‘Those talents have to go – Michael Owen went to the World Cup young and blew up the whole world. You have to give these talents the experience and even if he went there and didn’t play it would be useful for him to get used to the environment and playing at a tournament.
‘That would be hugely valuable; we’ve seen players do that before and benefit from it. I didn’t play a minute at the 1998 World Cup but that experience really helped at the 2002 tournament.
Should England take Dowman to the World Cup?
-
Yes – he’s good enough
-
No – it’s far too soon
‘I would love to see him go – it would be so exciting for English football. I would 100% take him – look at Spain with Lamine Yamal, I’m not comparing them but they saw a special talent and took him and then he blew everyone’s socks off.’
For now Dowman will hope to help boyhood club Arsenal clinch their first Premier League title since 2004 – five years before he was born.
The Gunners will claim the title if they win their remaining two games against Burnley and Crystal Palace.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.