Dowman on everyones lips - Rooneys advice for Arsenal teen

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Dowman, 15, impresses on Arsenal debut

Wayne Rooney says Max Dowman has got the whole football world talking as he offered the Arsenal teenager advice following his Premier League debut.

By coming off the bench during Arsenals 5-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday, Dowman became the second-youngest player to play for the club at 15 years and 234 days old.

Rooney is among the few who can relate to the Arsenal wingers experience.

He made his Everton debut aged 16 in August 2002 and was still five days short of his 17th birthday when he scored a stunning late winner against Arsenal two months later - becoming the Premier Leagues youngest scorer at the time.

Speaking on his new BBC podcast, The Wayne Rooney Show, Rooney reflected on personal experience of making his first-team debut so young and some of the challenges Dowman is likely to face in the coming months and years.

"To play at that age in the Premier League is crazy," Rooney said. "I know I played when I was young, but I think hes like 150 days younger than I was or more.

"Its just refreshing to see a young lad get his opportunity, and, even though hes playing for Arsenal, every time he cuts inside you go shoot. You want him to put it in the top corner."

While there was no debut goal for Dowman, he did win a penalty late on. Rooney was relieved that the 15-year-old was not given the responsibility of taking it.

"If he gets it and scores, its great, but I was thinking if he misses thats the difference in being an absolute success story and... all of sudden you get everyone, not everyone, but online people having a go at him," the former Manchester United striker added.

"So I was really pleased he didnt, but it was such an impressive debut."

Max Dowman became the second-youngest player to play for Arsenal when he came on against Leeds

The challenge for Dowman is to remain grounded as his profile grows and the excitement over his potential builds.

"For Max and his family and friends, Im sure theyre all living in a dream and a fairy tale and it probably hasnt hit home yet," Rooney said. "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.

"Its difficult for anyone. I think the first thing youve got to do is just stay around your family and close friends.

"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.

"You just have to make sure the people who are closer to you, you stay around them and listen to their advice rather than outsiders."

As well as stepping up on the pitch, Rooney says there are also adjustments off it for a young player breaking into the first team.

"Its surreal. Its so strange that one minute youre in the youth team and the next youre in the first-team dressing room with some of your heroes," Rooney said.

"For me, it was some of my heroes growing up, then were training, were playing, were becoming friends.

"I was around at Duncan Fergusons house. He lived on the same road as me, and Im just chilling with him and Alan Stubbs. And youre like, what is going on here?.

"Its 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 Ive seen and you hope he manages to deal with it and understands whats coming his way very soon."

Rooneys main words of advice for Dowman come from the heart.

"Enjoy it. Im sure were going to see so much of him, so much of his talent and goals and assists, whatever," he said.

"Alan Stubbs always said to me years ago, make sure you enjoy it because it goes very quickly.

"When youre young, you dont think that or you sometimes forget that, but enjoy it and make the most of it."

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