By Ken Jones for "The Independent" 21/8/98
So much has happened so quickly for Michael Owen that too much may now be expected of England's youngest-ever
international footballer.
Barely four months after doubts were expressed about Owen's readiness at 18 years old for the World Cup finals he is known
world-wide and a stellar figure in the Premiership.
Owen's demeanour suggests enough maturity to handle all the attention he has received since terrifying Argentina with his pace
and scoring a marvellous goal against them, but some discretion should be shown in observation and assessment.
No English player in recent years has shown such potential. However, a fault of reporting across the airwaves and in newspapers
is to encourage a response that ignores difficulties in development. If they are good enough they are old enough is a pretty sound
maxim in any sport, but allowances have to be made for gaps in education.
From some of the things that have been said and written since Owen reappeared in Liverpool's colours, most recently in last
Sunday's victory at Southampton that saw him provide the pass for one goal before scoring the winner, you would think he was
the finished article.
The fact that Owen still has things to learn, especially in link-up play and knowing how to get the most from exceptional pace and
awareness, makes his future all the more exciting.
Trouble is that people are inclined to think Owen man of the match simply from watching him in the warm-up. Liverpool's
joint-manager Roy Evans made this point after Owen-mania broke out during a pre-season friendly against Internazionale at
Anfield. Coming up against sensible marking and covering, Owen did nothing exceptional in that match, but exceptional
performances are now automatically imagined for him.
Once Owen showed the temperament for international football he was foolishly compared with the greatest player of all time,
Pele, who was a year younger when his genius was revealed in Sweden at the 1958 World Cup finals.
George Best and Diego Maradona came close, but nobody to my mind has matched the Brazilian's range of virtuosity.
Without wishing to detract from the progress Owen has made, one of the reasons he stood out in France was the absence of a
truly outstanding attacker, by which I mean one whose natural gifts were accompanied by consistent determination.
I recently discussed this with some former international players who can look back on their own World Cup experiences. They all
agreed that Owen was a revelation, lighting up the tournament with his acceleration and directness. "The kid stood out and should
have a terrific career," one of them said, "but there is still a lot for him to learn."
The thing to remember about young people in sport is they are as vulnerable to ups and downs as young people in any other
profession. The difference is public scrutiny and today's quite ridiculous hyperbole.