Max Dowman became the youngest-ever player to represent England’s Under-21s on Friday breaking Jude Bellingham’s previous record during a high-profile friendly against Portugal in Bristol.
- Injury Cover: Jurrien Timber’s prolific display at left-back offers an elite contingency plan for Arsenal’s defensive rotation.
Max Dowman stepped onto the pitch at Ashton Gate aged 16 years, 10 months and 13 days, replacing Amario Cozier-Duberry for the final 29 minutes of the fixture, The London Evening The Standard reported. That appearance saw him break the previous record held by Jude Bellingham, who was 17 when he made his England U21 debut against Kosovo in September 2020.
Dowman’s maiden call-up arrived amid a domestic suspension following his late sending-off in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup defeat to Fleetwood last month. He had also received a straight red card during an England U19 appearance against the United States in September.
Despite the historic cameo, the Young Lions slipped to a 1-0 defeat following Afonso Moreira’s first-half strike. Arsenal team-mate Tommy Setford featured in goal for England, while Ethan Nwaneri started the match and Brooke Norton-Cuffy also featured.
| Player | National Team / Age | Recent Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| Max Dowman | England U21 (16 yrs, 10 mos) | Youngest-ever U21 appearance |
| Jurrien Timber | Netherlands (26 caps) | First international goals (brace) |
| Tommy Setford | England U21 / Stevenage | Starting goalkeeper duty |
Jurrien Timber netted twice as the Netherlands thrashed Greece 7-0, equaling the record for the biggest win in Nations League history. Operating out of position at left-back, he secured his first goals for his country in 26 caps.
Mikel Arteta will take note of Timber’s tactical versatility on the left side of defense. This development provides Arsenal with an extra contingency option if injuries impact Riccardo Calafiori, Piero Hincapie, or Myles Lewis-Skelly.
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