#youth-prospects

#youth-prospects

The Spanish Super Cup has always been something of an acquired taste for fans of LaLiga clubs that have been able to contest the showpiece. Much more so since it moved to Saudi Arabia in mid-season. At least when it was played at the start of a campaign, it was useful as another pre-season run-out if nothing else. Now, it's quite the inconvenience, though it does offer the chance of another trophy, so perhaps there is cachet in having it in the cabinet.

Arsenal youngster Marli Salmon was named on the bench for the first time in the Premier League in Saturday's game against Aston Villa. Salmon, 16, is one of a crop of exciting youngsters coming through the Arsenal academy and is in the same age group as Max Dowman, who has already made his first-team debut. He was one of two 15-year-olds on the Arsenal pre-season tour of Asia and featured against AC Milan and Newcastle United in Singapore.

St Johnstone are one of many clubs keen on a January loan deal for Hearts striker James Wilson, with the 18-year-old Scotland cap having started just one Premiership game this term. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

The hype around Moukoko in 2020 was astonishing, even before he made his Dortmund debut. As a 14-year-old in 2018-19, the Cameroon-born forward scored a record 50 league goals for the German side's under-17s, and at 13 had declared to Bild his intention to win the Ballon d'Or. Promoted to the under-19s the following season, he scored 34 goals in 20 games, also providing nine assists.

Arsenal's Hale End academy looks to have produced another generational talent in Dowman, with the 15-year-old midfielder already drawing stylistic comparisons to Martin Ødegaard as a right-sided playmaker who drifts infield onto his stronger left foot. A key difference is that Dowman dazzles with his dribbling, take-ons and speed on the ball, while his composure to stand up against senior defenders, as seen on Arsenal's preseason tour, is also impressive for one so young.