TO THE MAX
Jack Wilshere says Arsenal may ‘fast-track’ 14-YEAR-OLD wonderkid into first-team squad having made U18s debut aged 13
Midfielder provided FOUR assists for Gunners' U18s at the weekend
ARSENAL'S U18s head coach Jack Wilshere has revealed that Gunners may 'fast-track' 14-year-old Max Dowman into the first team.
The former Gunners star, who broke into the first team as a teenager, said he "really enjoyed" Dowman's performance.
The schoolboy caught the eye again after assisting four goals in a recent 5-2 win against Fulham for the U18's.
Wilshere told : "There's always a concern when fielding such a young player in these matches, but if you're good enough you're old enough.
"He can be more consistent but he's only 14 and hasn't even started his GCSEs yet.
"We need to find a balance of letting him play and enjoy the game because of his age but also trying to get as much work into him as we can.
"Hopefully, we can fast-track him and when he goes over to the first team he'll be more ready.
"I really enjoyed the performance. We had a blend of players spanning from under-14s to under-18s.
"It's always intriguing to see how they play together, how they fight together, and today, I felt we witnessed that in abundance.
"It's reassuring to know that if I field an under-14 who isn't a regular in our training sessions, I can trust that they grasp our playing style and tactics.
"Today, they demonstrated that understanding flawlessly, which is a testament to the diligent work of all our coaches."
The wonderkid made his debut for Arsenal U18s, aged just 13, as he helped the Young Gunners to a 4-0 win over Southampton.
During his debut, Dowman was proved to be the star of the show when he was introduced in the second half.
Gunner fans were stunned, one person tweeted: "A 13-year old in U18s, that is some achievement."
The midfielder is already turning heads, including Wilshere's, whilst being Arsenal's youngest player in the U18's set up.
Wilshere praised the teenager and admitted he "deserved" his chance with the U18's side.
He said: "He handled the moment admirably, sending an important message to the team that when we introduce players, they possess the quality to contribute effectively."
