'Liverpool and Arsenal wonderkids will get into the England squad - this is who will be first'

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Former England defender Joleon Lescott has backed Max Dowman to earn his international debut and become a star for the national team . However, he believes Liverpool gem Rio Ngumoha is in the conversation to beat him to the punch.

The teenage talents have each enjoyed breakout campaigns for their respective Premier League employers this season. Dowman has earned rave reviews at just 16 years old and was recently named Man of the Match in Arsenal's FA Cup win over Mansfield .

Ngumoha, 17, had his own impressive FA Cup turn in Liverpool's 3-1 revenge win at Wolves , however. And Lescott told All Out Football that the Reds prospect is well in that conversation to make an impact for England after Mirror Sport 's Andy Dunn suggested Dowman could go to World Cup 2026 .

“Yeah, I watched him, I did the game on the weekend [at Molineux], and I agree," said Lescott. "The end product probably doesn't look as clean as Max, but the decisions, what he [Ngumoha] was trying to do was more consistent.

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"So I think that, again, we spoke about the importance of decision-making to outcomes and people just see a cross or a shot. I'm like, 'That's unlucky'. I'm like, 'Should he have shot, though, or should he have dribbled or should he have passed? Was it the right decision to make rather than the right outcome that come of it?'

"Going back to Max, he's definitely going to play for England. And we were speaking about, he has got a chance, he's got a chance of being a world-class talent, 100 per cent. But I don't know who he's ahead of to not go [to the World Cup]."

It's remarkable to think Dowman is already being spoken of as a potential World Cup inclusion having only made six senior appearances for Arsenal . However, that number may be considerably higher by now had he not spent much of this season injured.

Dowman's display at Mansfield made him the youngest player to start an FA Cup game for the Gunners as he continues to break down barriers. And to his credit, the winger has consistently produced moments of magic in his limited first-team minutes.

Ngumoha has had more of a chance to impress under Arne Slot and has one goal in 19 senior outings for Liverpool. And having been born almost 18 months before Dowman, it makes sense that he might be further along in his development.

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Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel isn't exactly short of wide options as he constructs his World Cup squad for the summer. Bukayo Saka , Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers appear nailed on to be included, while Jarrod Bowen and a resurgent Marcus Rashford are also likely to go to North America.

That's without mentioning other wide men like Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke, who have also impressed under Tuchel. Given that depth of competition, it becomes more difficult to envision either Dowman or Ngumoha making their entry before this summer.

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That being said, both players appear nailed on for future England camps beyond World Cup 2026. Arsenal alum Theo Walcott holds the record for the youngest England debutant having made his bow at 17 years and 75 days old.

The ship has already sailed for Ngumoha to break that record, though there's still time for Dowman to set a new benchmark. However, Mikel Arteta 's focus will be on how his starlet can aid Arsenal's chances as they battle for silverware on four fronts this term.

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