Whenever a young player breaks through into the professional and senior vicinity, there is an immediate temptation to anoint them as the next great footballer.
It is natural. Supporters love to see the future unfold before their eyes, and young players are obviously the future. And whenever there is even a hint that the future might be prosperous, the hope begins to rise, the expectations swell with it, and the pressure mounts.
But the development of young players, however talented they may be, is extremely unpredictable. It is a fragile endeavour, one that ends in disappointment more than success.