To minimise the risks to young football players we should ban agents recruiting under-18s

‘For those such as Raheem Sterling, Max Dowman (above) and JJ Gabriel, who do achieve their ambitions, the pressures, from coaches, fans, sponsors and social media must be immense.’ Photograph: Peter Cziborra/Action Images/Reuters

Jonathan Liew’s piece (Raheem Sterling’s bleak tale a reminder of absurd path young footballers face, 17 September) is informative and timely, particularly when set against Jacob Steinberg’s report (‘They are very similar’: Arsenal’s Dowman reminds Merino of Lamine Yamal, 16 September).

The tiny proportion of young footballers originally “signed” by top flight clubs at a ludicrously young age, who then achieve their dreams of a Premier League career, rather than being summarily dismissed at the age of 16 or 17 with the vast majority of their contemporaries, should be a reality check for parents/guardians of all aspiring young athletes.