Arsenal star Max Dowman smashes Jude Bellingham’s record – but a less-familiar name should catch Thomas Tuchel’s eye ahead of Euro 2028: THINGS WE LEARNED from England U21’s defeat to Portugal

Max Dowman smashed Jude Bellingham’s record on an icy cold night in Bristol to become the youngest player to ever play for England’s Under-21s.

The 16-year-old was sent on with 30 minutes to go by Lee Carsley in a move that energised an Ashton Gate crowd that went home frustrated after a 1-0 defeat inflicted by Afonso Moreira’s first half goal. 

But this was to be Dowman’s night, smashing the previous record set by Bellingham when he made his England Under-21 debut against Kosovo in 2020 aged 17 years, two months and six days old. Dowman does not turn 17 until December 31. 

Under-21s boss Lee Carsley has been keen long before this international break to try to shield Dowman from the weight of expectation.

But on he came, replacing the lively Amario Cozier-Duberry with a smile on his face and a quiet confidence that he didn’t take long to show off, bursting past two Portuguese markers before four huddled together to gang up on him.

Breaking records is nothing new to a player that already holds one for being the Premier League’s youngest-ever goalscorer, thanks to his goal against Everton last season.

Dowman is both the youngest player to ever win the Premier League and his outing in the Champions League against Slavia Prague last season saw the then-15-year-old become the youngest-ever player to appear in that competition.

By the time next summer’s European Championships, which England will attempt to win for a third successive time, rolls around, rising star Dowman could well have earned the right to be this team’s main man.

His immense talent was one reason why Arsenal sent Ethan Nwaneri, who Dowman played alongside for part of his cameo, to Marseille on loan, and then similarly to Borussia Dortmund, eager not to block the 16-year-old’s pathway.

Carsley knows the diamond he has on his hands and will want to take great care in helping polish a player that this crowd, this England team and this management group know has genuine world class potential.

THE REDEMPTION ARC

Speaking of Nwaneri, this felt like a big camp for him. A big camp in the sense that he’s falling down the pecking order at Dortmund and is back with a manager that has been so vital in his development. 

Nwaneri was part of that 2025 group that won the Euros in front of Thomas Tuchel and he’ll have seen the likes of Elliot Anderson and Alex Scott kick on to get to the seniors.

As previously mentioned, Nwaneri was moved out of the way by Arsenal to aid Dowman’s development, not an easy pill for a player as talented as he is to stomach when his own development journey is at such a critical juncture given he is, to the surprise of many, still only 19.

It was telling that even when Dowman came on, even with the groundswell of excitement at his introduction, it was Carsley’s call to keep Nwaneri in his preferred No 10 position with Dowman slotting in on the right.

Nwaneri has only started four games on loan at Dortmund this season and has not managed a single start in the Champions League.

His close control, his quick burst over five yards and the fluidity of his movement was a timely reminder that yes, Dowman is the rising star everyone came out to see, but Nwaneri won’t get pushed to the side again without a fight.

THE RISING STAR

Amario Cozier-Duberry is a name not all will be familiar with but come next summer, with the Euros in his sights and promotion to the Premier League on the agenda with Middlesbrough, that could all be about to change.

The 21-year-old has had to be very patient, waiting until last month to make his debut at this level after years of finding himself overlooked.

Here, in what was just his third Under-21 appearance, he showed over the course of 61 minutes why the days of being looked past should be over.

One of the big frustrations in the FA right now at Under-21 level is the lack of touchline wingers. Rio Ngumoha, still only 18, has never been capped at the level and has instead been catapulted into the first team, while many, like Ethan Nwaneri, prefer playing inside.

Dowman, on in place of Cozier-Duberry is a 10, rather than a right winger which is where he came on, and so a player like Cozier-Duberry, who is on loan at Middlesbrough from Brighton & Hove Albion, is worth his weight in gold.

Here in Bristol he was routinely drawing two defenders and at times three; Portugal knew full well how a quick flip-flap of the ball, or one clipped pass over the top, was enough for the Englishman to take the top off the back-line.

His loan at Bolton Wanderers last season complicated an international journey that has seen him play at Under-16, Under-17, Under-18, Under-19 and Under-20 level, but that’s all in the past.

England need a genuine, pacy threat out wide if they are to win a third straight Euros. Cozier-Duberry showed here exactly why he should be it.