Wayne Rooney urges patience for Arsenal history-maker Max Dowman

Wayne Rooney believes Premier League history-maker Max Dowman may have to be patient as he balances his forthcoming GCSE exams with his Arsenal opportunities.

Dowman became the division’s youngest ever goalscorer with a wonderful effort against Everton at the weekend, netting at the age of 16 years and 73 days.

Rooney knows exactly what the youngster is dealing with having shot into the public eye five days before his 17th birthday when he scored for the Toffees in the same fixture in 2002.

And he believes those around Dowman will ensure that his education is not sidelined in the coming weeks, despite his instant impact for the league leaders.

“For me it was all football over education, I don’t know what the situation is for him – if it’s education first I don’t think we’ll see that much of him over the next couple of months,” he said on the Wayne Rooney Show.

“I’m sure Mikel (Arteta, Arsenal manager) will have had his parents in, and family, and spoken about what his education means to him. I’d imagine, especially now, he won’t be in as much as he’d probably like…but just get them (exams) out of the way, there’s many years ahead of you.

“What an opportunity for him to be around the squad. He could be a Premier League winner when he’s still finishing school off.”

Rooney, who delivered on his early promise with a glittering career with England and Manchester United, is excited by what he sees in Dowman.

“He’s got an aura and a belief about him and it was the same against Everton,” he said.

“He seems, from the games I’ve watched, to not let that pressure affect him because he gets the ball and he holds on to it. He commits defenders, he goes to take them on and so he definitely looks like he’s got a confidence about him.

“It’s a big moment for him in his life and career, it’s obviously something which I’ve been through as a 16-year-old, and that moment will live with him for the rest of his life.

“So when we’ve got a young lad like that coming through as a 16-year-old, he’s clearly got a lot of ability and you just hope he can go and fulfil that potential.

“Let him enjoy it and go and express himself.”