'Better than Harry Kane' - Brad Friedel reveals identity of ex-Tottenham youngster who could've been world-beater but now plays in America's second tier

Excitement has continued to build around teenage wonderkid Sullivan since he made history as the youngest MLS debutant in July 2024. He was aged just 14 years and 293 days at the time, with a place in the history books being snatched from former prodigy Freddy Adu.

Adu has been used as a cautionary tale down to the years when it comes to unfilled potential, as he was billed as the next Pele after making his own breakthrough at 14. He went on to endure a nomadic career at club level, but did earn 17 caps for the United States.

Sullivan will be hoping to fare better than that, but there are many stories to be found of shining lights that burned out before illuminating the big time - with there tales of that variety to be told around the world.

Friedel, speaking with the online casino authority Casino.org, told GOAL when asked about the habit of writing exciting youngsters off if they ultimately become anything less than superstars: "Correct, and it’s wrong to think that way.

"I’ve sat in the Premier League at Tottenham in the academy when deciding between two or three players to take up to the next age group at 13, 14, 15. Sometimes what you’re choosing between is so strange. At one stage, Cameron Lancaster was, in a lot of people’s eyes, better than Harry Kane. And he was, by the way. He had terrible injuries. You are choosing at such young ages. Harry has become this world icon and Cam, unfortunately, could have done really well. He had some terrible knee issues.

"You just don’t know what’s going to happen at young ages. When you build someone up too much and they don’t score 25 goals, 25 assists every season, everyone’s thinking that they can’t play."

Lancaster, who was on the books at Spurs until 2014, is now plying his trade at 32 years of age in the USL Championship for Louisville City FC. Sullivan, meanwhile, is furthering his development at the Philadelphia Union - with a move to Premier League giants Manchester City already lined up for when he turns 18.