England Under-21s boss Lee Carsley has said that Arsenal teenager Max Dowman has a 'fantastic future at international level' but insists there is no need to rush the 16-year-old's development. Dowman became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history earlier this month, scoring in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Everton.
Despite his impressive form, England senior coach Thomas Tuchel overlooked Dowman for March's squad. Instead, the attacking midfielder has been named in the Under-19s setup. Carsley stressed the importance of getting the timing right for Dowman's progression.
'We speak a lot about all of the players,' Carsley said. 'I think it's important that we get the challenge point right. Max is going to have a fantastic future at international level. It's important that we don't rush that. One thing he has got is time on his hands.'
Carsley added that Dowman would play for the Under-19s, with a potential Under-20s World Cup on the horizon. Meanwhile, Myles Lewis-Skelly, who dropped out of the senior squad after limited game time at Arsenal, has been included in the Under-21s squad for qualifiers against Andorra and Moldova.
Carsley said of Lewis-Skelly: 'Very enthusiastic, very dedicated. Very motivated to play for the 21s and get some game time.' He added that the 19-year-old should not give up on his World Cup dreams, saying: 'He's got to have a strong end to the season, and you never know what's around the corner.'
