By Neil Silver for the "Press Association" 13/8/98
Michael Owen has been tipped to handle the pressure of being a young superstar by former teenage prodigy Norman
Whiteside.
Liverpool strike sensation Owen became a national hero during France 98 with his heroic performances for England. He
sparked a frenzy of interest which will follow him wherever he laces his boots this season.
Former Manchester United hero Whiteside holds the proud record of being the youngest player to have competed in the
World Cup finals and reckons he knows what England's 18-year-old starlet can expect.
Whiteside made his Northern Ireland debut against Yugoslavia in the 1982 tournament in Spain, aged just 17 years and 41
days - and broke Pele's 24-year-old record in the process.
Owen has blazed a similar record-breaking trail during his short career and he is already the youngest player to represent
England this century. The Liverpool striker was 18 years and 178 days old when France 98 kicked off.
Whiteside feels that Owen is under a different kind of pressure to the demands he faced 16 years ago. The Ulsterman had to
cope with being continually compared to Pele or George Best, but he was not expected to score the goals that Owen is.
But Whiteside was impressed by Owen's temperament in France and feels he has the personality to cope with the stresses.
"I was under the spotlight for different reasons back in 1982 because I had broken Pele's record as the youngest player to
play in the World Cup finals," said Whiteside.
"Michael, though, is already the youngest England international this century and people are looking to him to pump the goals
in.
"He has also got to cope with the added burden of expectancy that goes with playing for England. The country always
expects them to do well and to reach the semi-finals or final of a major event.
"But Michael seems to me to have his head screwed on. He comes across to me as a level-headed sort of guy and so I think
he will cope with all these pressures that are on him."
Whiteside feels Owen has had longer than he had to prepare himself for performing under the international spotlight, which
should stand him in good stead.
"For me, playing in the World Cup was all part of the ride because it happened so quickly," he said. "I literally left school and
went to the World Cup finals.
"I only got into the Manchester United team towards the end of the season and before I had time to think I was in the
Northern Ireland squad going to Spain.
"Michael is a little bit different in that he had a full season in the Premiership with Liverpool, while he also had that extra
European experience from playing in the UEFA Cup.
"He also played a few internationals in the run-up to the finals, whereas I made my debut in Northern Ireland's opening
game against Yugoslavia. All this should also help him come to terms with the expectation."
Whiteside's view is shared by Owen's Liverpool and England team-mate, Paul Ince, who feels he has a maturity way beyond
his years.
"The thing about Michael is that nothing fazes him," said Ince. "He has no nerves or anything like that about playing. Some
of the more senior players tend to worry about games too much, but not Michael; he just goes out and does it."
