Former Tottenham star Michael Dawson has joked that his nephew, Joey, would be joining ‘the wrong side in north London’ if he signed for Arsenal.
Reports earlier this week claimed that Arsenal are considering a move for the 16-year-old Scunthorpe United midfielder either this January or next summer.
Dawson became the youngest ever player to appear in a competitive match for Scunthorpe when he came on as a replacement against Derby County in the Carabao Cup back in August.
The highly-rated teenager has also been an unused substitute five times this season in League Two.
? YOUNGEST PLAYER: The Scunthorpe United history books had a new entry on Tuesday evening, with first-year academy scholar Joey Dawson becoming the youngest used player in the club’s history at 16 years, 75 days old – https://t.co/PKMNn7CBHq pic.twitter.com/95ABeHYlrN
— SUFC Academy (@SUFC_Academy) August 14, 2019
Football runs in the family for Dawson as his father, Andy, is considered a club legend at Hull City, and his uncle, Michael, was a former England international and captain of Spurs.
Asked about Joey’s recent links to Arsenal, the ex-Tottenham defender told talkSPORT: ‘When I saw that [rumour] the other day I thought he’s signing for the wrong side in north London!
‘He’s 16, who started [as an academy scholar] in July and then got the opportunity at Scunthorpe with Paul Hurst and Chris Doig.
‘He’s actually bigger than Andy.
‘He’s good on the ball and as he’s young; if he keeps his head down, keeps working, you never know where that will lead.’
Scunthorpe boss Paul Hurst has tipped Dawson for big things but has urged the teenager to ‘keep his feet on the ground’ and continue working hard to give himself the best possible chance of success.
‘I think he’s a player with a lot of potential and showed good ability during pre-season in various games at different levels,’ Hurst said after Dawson’s debut.
‘It was a proud moment.
‘He has to keep his feet on the ground now, whether that’s with the first team, Under-23s or Under-18s, and keep that hunger.’
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