Can anyone ID this maple sapling?

[Dogwood87]

I’m assuming this maple is either native or naturally occurring in the uk.

Not sure of the species as it was growing naturally on nearby property

can anyone tell what it is or too early?

 

[ajm55555]

Red maple?

 

[penumbra]

My first thought was Sweetgum, but I can't tell by pictures because it doesn't reveal to these old eyes if the leaves are alternate (gum) or opposite (maple).

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

@penumbra and @ajm55555
guys, I would have thought you would have noticed the OP, @Dogwood87 is in the UK. You should have started with suggesting maples native to the UK.

candidates would include
Acer campestre - the field maple - your leaves are close but not quite right, campestre tend to be slighty more rounded

Acer platanoides - the Norway maple - your leaves are a pretty good fit.

Acer pseudoplatanus - sycamore in UK and sycamore maple in USA. - your leaves seem to small and not quite rounded enough, but pretty close.

So best guess - Norway maple, but could be the other two.

Acer rubrum - a North American species widely introduced to UK and EU is close too, though I think Norway maple is best fit.

Note: break the leaf petiole. Norway maple, Acer platanoides will bleed milky white sap. All other species will bleed clear sap. The white sap confirms Norway maple.

 

[Mike Westervelt]

I'd guess Norway as well

 

[Zerobear]

Red maple?

I don't think Red Maple. There is one six houses up the street from me and we have maybe thirty small saplings in our garden this year. I guess we were downwind one day when the seeds were helicoptering away.

 

[penumbra]

If it is a Norway there is one simple and easy way to find out. Pluck a leaf and sap will be white.