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Arsenal star nominated for League Cup Player of the Round award

Max Dowman has been nominated for the League Cup Player of the Round award, following his performance for Arsenal away to Ipswich Town.

IPSWICH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Max Dowman of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Ipswich Town and Arsenal at Portman Road on September 15, 2026 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

The EFL have announced their nominees for the League Cup’s third round Player of the Round award, with four players in contention and the public vote now open here.

Arsenal’s Max Dowman is up for the award, alongside Bournemouth’s Ryan Christie, Crystal Palace player Jorgen Strand Larsen, and Floyd Samba of Manchester City.

IPSWICH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Max Dowman of Arsenal scores his team’s third goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Ipswich Town and Arsenal at Portman Road on September 15, 2026 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Arsenal fans will be well aware of the reasons why Dowman was nominated, having scored two goals in an impressive 4-2 win away to Ipswich.

As for the others, Christie scored a hat-trick for Bournemouth against Lincoln City, Strand Larsen scored two and assisted one for Palace against Middlesbrough, and Samba scored a brace against Norwich City.

Perhaps it’s worth noting that all the other nominees were playing against Championship teams, whilst Dowman was facing a Premier League side. The Arsenal player is also the youngest of the nominees, with his goals yet again breaking records.

Max Dowman of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with Noni Madueke during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Ipswich Town and Arsenal at Portman Road on September 15, 2026 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

By scoring twice against Ipswich, Dowman became the youngest player ever to score a brace for a Premier League club in any competition.

Wayne Rooney was the only other 16-year-old ever to score a brace for a Premier League club, netting twice for Everton against Wrexham in 2002.

But Rooney was 16 years, 11 months, and seven days on that day, whereas Dowman was 16 years, eight months, and 15 days against Ipswich. So Dowman has now taken that record for himself.

Whether the public consider that sufficient reason to nominate him as the Player of the Round remains to be seen.

IPSWICH, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Max Dowman of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Ipswich Town and Arsenal at Portman Road on September 15, 2026 in Ipswich, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
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