Michael Owen names player he 'hasn't seen much of' as his Young Player of the Season winner

Michael Owen has mentioned a shock name who he has tipped to be crowned the Premier League's Young Player of the Season - despite admitting he 'hasn't seen enough of him' yet.

The 2025/26 top flight campaign has begun with champions Liverpool seeking to retain the crown they won last season, which was Arne Slot's first campaign in charge at Anfield as he succeeded Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool's defence got off to a positive start last night with a 4-2 victory at Anfield over Bournemouth thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa and Mo Salah, while Antoine Semenyo's brace in the second half had brought the Cherries on level terms.

Owen of course came through the youth team ranks at Liverpool and made his debut for the club in 1996.

He went on to score 158 goals in 297 games for Liverpool and won the FA Cup, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and two League Cups with the club, before leaving Merseyside for Real Madrid in 2004 for £8m.

However, Owen spent just one campaign at the Santiago Bernabeu before moving back to the Premier League to sign for Newcastle United.

After four seasons and scoring 30 goals in 79 matches for the Magpies, Owen departed on a free transfer to Manchester United in 2009.

Michael Owen won the Premier League at Manchester United. (Image: Getty)

Owen won the Premier League title and League Cup with United, before ending his career with Stoke City and hung up his boots in 2013, while he also scored 40 goals in 89 England caps between 1998 and 2008 after bursting onto the scene at the World Cup in France in 1998.

Owen was awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year during the 1997/98 season.

And the Premier League Young Player of the Season award was first given in 2020 and is handed out to the best player aged 23 or under in the top flight.

Last season's award went to Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch as he impressed during the club's title win - but Owen has tipped a new winner for this campaign.

During pre-season, Max Dowman has featured for Arsenal during their friendly fixtures against AC Milan, Newcastle and Spurs and attracted praise despite being aged just 15 and could well feature in Mikel Arteta's first-team squad this campaign.

And Owen - who has become a pundit since hanging up his boots - has predicted attacking midfielder Dowman could emerge as the Premier League's best young player, despite admitting he has not seen much of the Gunners youngster.

Speaking to the Premier League website, Owen said: "I’m joining the hype train really as I haven’t seen enough of him to form a strong opinion, but my sources tell me that he is a little bit special so I’ll follow that as opposed to my own eyes at the moment.

"We might not see him play an awful lot this season but even glimpses of his talent would be an exciting thing."