Alan Cawley says that Shamrock Rovers' 16-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu needs to be given the space to "develop properly" after making a sensational start to his career.
Bazunu impressed between the sticks for Rovers as they held Cork City to a goalless draw last Friday, and produced a superb save to deny Kieran Sadlier from the penalty spot.
The RTÉ Soccer pundit praised Bazunu for the display he gave against the reigning Premier Division champions, but cautioned against putting any pressure on him as he continues to mature.
"He deserves all the credit in the world but the only little thing I would say is this is only his fourth game and he was brilliant the other night in saving a penalty," Cawley said on the Soccer Republic podcast.
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"Just let the lad develop properly, let him play his games.
"Don't be putting any undue pressure on him or needless expectation on his shoulders. Let him develop and become what he's going to become because so far, he's made an unbelievable start to his career.
"To go to Cork and get a result like they did, I think it's a good result for them and it's largely down to the young lad saving [the penalty], it was a fantastic save as well."
"I'm a big fan of Sadlier. I saw the video, he struck it very well but it was a brilliant save.
'This boy was unbelievable,' 16-year-old goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu starred for Shamrock Rovers against Cork City and kept out a penalty from Kieran Sadlier. #soccerrepublic pic.twitter.com/q1WK5w63CX
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) July 9, 2018
"Now this talk of 'he hasn't conceded a goal...' you could have played in goals in the first two or three games because it was Bray, Limerick and I watched him play against Derry [City] last week and he had one save to make.
"Derry were absolutely horrendous so I wouldn't be getting too carried away with that, but the save he made on the night against Cork and to go down to Turner's Cross [in front of a] packed crowd, that'd be daunting enough for any 16-year-old."
Cawley also praised Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley for placing his faith in the young netminder, when he had experienced goalkeeper Alan Mannus available for selection after recently returning to Ireland following seven years in Scotland with St Johnstone.
"And in fairness to Stephen Bradley, you have to give him credit as well because Alan Mannus was available the other night - who they obviously signed to replace the other two keepers - and he stuck with Gavin because he had played well in the other games. And he deserves credit for that as well."
The Hoops currently lie in fourth position on the Premier Division table and are facing into a Europa League qualification battle with Swedish side AIK this month, beginning with the first leg in Tallaght Stadium this Thursday.
Cawley suggested that Bazunu be rested for the two legs and reinstate him later in the season.
He said: "Maybe now is the time to take him out because of the fuss and the whole lot that's going to be around the kid. And people getting carried away, it might be the right time to take him out now and let him develop properly and bring him back in maybe later in the season.
"They haven't brought Alan Mannus back to sit on the bench, [he's an] experienced goalkeeper. And it's good for the young fella that he's got such an experienced goalkeeper to learn off and will be training with every day of the week also."
