Jack Wilshere has made a passionate argument for the inclusion of Arsenal youngster Max Dowman in England's 2026 World Cup squad, insisting rivals such as Spain would not hesitate to call up such a young talent.
The former Gunners midfielder, now manager of Luton Town, believes the 16-year-old has a level of natural ability that surpasses even his early years at Arsenal.
Wilshere has been close to Dowman's development since the youngster was just 13, coaching him at Arsenal's academy.
The experience was immediate; the 34-year-old recalls a phone call with his father where he admitted that the boy could be a bigger talent than himself. The Luton manager is convinced that Dowman's physical strength and technical maturity set him apart from almost every other prospect in the country.
He told The Telegraph: “I remember calling my dad and saying, ‘Dad, you’ve got to come and see this guy. I think he’s better than me.’ My dad is very fond of me; he thinks I’m the best player. I even argue with him sometimes. I don’t want to put pressure on him [Dowman], but there’s a lot of pressure on him anyway.” He added that Dowman’s Premier League goal record, at the age of 16, was higher than what he himself achieved at the same age: “I didn’t score a goal like that at 16.”
Considering the possibilities of the 2026 World Cup in North America, Wilshere believes the Three Lions should look to how the Spain national football team integrated Lamine Yamal into Euro 2024. While England often tend to "protect" young players, Wilshere argues that age should not be a barrier if a player is good enough to play at senior level.
He added: “The only thing I would say is that Spain would take him. I think so. In England sometimes we protect them too much, but then we overdo it. You get stuck with the question: ‘If he goes, what will people say?’ He [Dowman] is definitely quite good. Even if he goes and doesn’t play much. I think he can play. He’s quite good. He’ll be there eventually. I understand people saying: ‘Maybe not’. But I also think Yamal went as a 16-year-old to Euro 2024 and was the best player of the tournament.”
However, some former England stars have advised caution. Michael Owen, who scored big at the 1998 World Cup as a teenager, suggested that Dowman has not yet done enough to replace the established stars in the squad.
He said: "He would have to start practically every game between now and the end of the season and totally excel to justify his choice over the strongest part of our squad on the attacking wings."
Similarly, former Arsenal player Theo Walcott warned of the emotional toll of such a move: "I hope he doesn't go. If I could go back, I would change that. He needs to grow at his own pace, especially emotionally, because he's a young adult."/Express newspaper/
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