They are the brightest talents at their clubs who have reached another landmark in their young lives, but that is where the similarities end.

Jake Robinson, Albion's youngest ever goalscorer, celebrates his 17th birthday today with a family meal in the relative quiet of a Seaford restaurant.

Pop icon Robbie Williams is the special guest at the 18th birthday party tomorrow of Wayne Rooney of Everton and England.

Rooney chartered a helicopter to see the singer perform at Knebworth in August after they struck up a friendship.

In return, Williams is giving a special performance to mark the coming of age of English football's teenage superstar.

It is one example of how Wayne's world is currently rather different to that of the Seagulls' great hope for the future.

Jake is now old enough to learn to drive. Earlier this year Wayne bought a brand new £15,000 Mini Cooper, made popular by celebrities such as Liam Gallagher.

He reportedly has a lucrative sponsorship deal with Ford, allowing him the keys to any car they produce.

Robinson resides in the family home in Denton, Newhaven, with his parents, younger brothers Lee (14) and Ian (7), and sister Katie.

Dad Dave is a postman and ex-fullback for Steyning, Worthing, Peacehaven and Sussex.

Mum Sue is a nurse and they both work shifts so they watch Jake in action on a rota basis.

Rooney bought the £350,000, five-bedroomed detached house where he lives with mum Jeanette - a dinner lady at his old school - and father Wayne Snr.

He is unemployed and helps raise Wayne and his younger brothers, Graham (14) and John (11).

Rooney is on a £13,000-a-week contract at Everton. Once he turns 18 he is expected to become the highest paid teenager in world football, outstripping the likes of Barcelona's Javier Saviola and Javier Garcia Portillo at David Beckham's club Real Madrid.

He is tipped to amass a £25 million fortune by the time he is 35, not bad for a lad who grew up on the Croxteth council estate on Merseyside.

It is a far cry from Robinson's modest earnings as a first year scholar with Albion, but the level-headed striking prospect regards Rooney as an inspiration.

"He's a great player, he has already proved that," Robinson said.

"He is playing for England and he is in the Premiership. I suppose that is something that all young players like myself have got to look up to.

"It shows it can be done if you have got the potential, so he is a great example.

"The Premiership and Division Two are different worlds almost so you expect people at that standard to be earning more.

"But it just shows at that young age you can be doing it and if you put your mind to it you will be able to get there.

"I know at this stage I won't be doing what he is doing, but hopefully one day I might be there.

"I am grateful for what I have got obviously. I would like to have his money! But at the moment I am very happy with where I am and what I am doing."

Rooney first rose to prominence when he scored a sensational last-gasp winner against Robinson's beloved Arsenal at Goodison Park last season.

"That was the goal that shot him to a fame," Robinson said. "It was a great goal, one you couldn't do anything about so I didn't mind that much.

"He's a great finisher and I would like to be able to do some of the things he does in front of goal.

"He can hold the ball up and he's got some pace. He is a good all-round player.

"I would like to be as strong as him, but I think he used to be a boxer so he would be bigger."

It's early days, but Robinson has been punching his weight pretty well for Albion so far.

He followed his historic goal against Forest Green Rovers in the LDV Vans Trophy last week with his league debut as a late substitute at Bournemouth last Saturday.

Martin Hinshelwood, Albion's director of football, says: "You say to young players 'excite me' and he does."

Let me entertain you? Williams would approve.