England manager Thomas Tuchel has not ruled out the possibility of taking 16-year-old Arsenal midfielder Max Dowman to the World Cup, despite leaving him out of the squad for the upcoming March international friendlies. Dowman recently made headlines by becoming the youngest-ever goalscorer in Premier League history, netting a crucial strike against Everton.
Tuchel explained his decision to omit Dowman, emphasising the importance of allowing the teenager to continue his development in a stable environment. 'He is a fantastic talent, but he is not a regular starter for Arsenal,' Tuchel said. 'At the moment, he is in the best environment possible: a competitive club where teamwork is the number one rule.'
The German coach added that calling up Dowman prematurely could increase pressure and noise around the player. 'We always have the chance to call him up for the World Cup,' Tuchel noted. 'With young players, we must keep their momentum and fearlessness without adding unnecessary pressure.'
Dowman has made eight appearances for England Under-19s, scoring once in a 7-0 win over Wales. He could experience Wembley this weekend when Arsenal face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.
