Liverpool sensation Rio Ngumoha has been backed to earn his international debut by an ex-England star, though he has stiff competition to become his country’s latest wonderkid
Rio Ngumoha has been backed to make his England debut in the not-too-distant future despite steep competition(Image: Andrew Kearns – CameraSport, CameraSport via Getty Images)
Former England defender Joleon Lescott has tipped Rio Ngumoha to secure his international debut and become a star for the national team. However, he has warned Max Dowman is in contention to pip him to the post.
The teenage prodigies have each enjoyed breakthrough seasons for their respective Premier League clubs this campaign. Dowman has garnered glowing praise at just 16 years old and was recently awarded Man of the Match in Arsenal’s FA Cup victory over Mansfield.
Ngumoha, 17, delivered his own impressive FA Cup performance in Liverpool’s 3-1 revenge win at Wolves. And Lescott told All Out Football that the Reds prospect is firmly in that discussion to make an impact for England after Mirror Sport‘s Andy Dunn suggested Dowman could feature at World Cup 2026.
“Yeah, I watched him, I did the game on the weekend [at Molineux], and I agree,” said ex-Everton talisman 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 extraordinary to think Dowman is already being discussed as a potential World Cup contender having only made six senior appearances for Arsenal. However, that figure could be significantly higher by now had he not spent much of this season on the treatment table.
Dowman’s performance at Mansfield made him the youngest player to start an FA Cup fixture for the Gunners. And to his credit, the winger has repeatedly delivered flashes of brilliance in his limited first-team opportunities.
Dowman dazzled as he broke Arsenal’s record for youngest player to start an FA Cup game in their win over Mansfield(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Ngumoha, who recently earned praise from captain Virgil van Dijk, has enjoyed more of an opportunity to shine under Arne Slot and has netted once in 19 senior appearances for Liverpool. And having been born nearly 18 months before Dowman, it stands to reason that he might be more advanced in his progression.
Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel isn’t exactly lacking wide options as he assembles his World Cup squad for the summer. Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers appear certain to be selected, whilst Jarrod Bowen and a resurgent Marcus Rashford are also likely to travel to North America.
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That’s without mentioning other wide players like Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke, who have also shone under Tuchel. Given that level of competition, it becomes harder to imagine either Dowman or Ngumoha breaking through before this summer.
That said, both players look certain to feature in future England squads beyond the World Cup. Arsenal academy graduate Theo Walcott holds the record for the youngest England debutant, having made his first appearance at 17 years and 75 days old.
The opportunity has already passed for Ngumoha to break that record, though there’s still time for Dowman to establish a new milestone. Record notwithstanding, there’s little reason why Ngumoha can’t aim to have a significant say on his country’s fortunes in the years to come.
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