Manchester United U18s were back in rampant form on Saturday, thrashing Middlesbrough in the league.
After two seasons of record breaking performances by Manchester United’s U18 side, this season was expected to be less impressive.
Brilliant head coach Adam Lawrence departed Carrington as he looks for a senior role in football, which then saw United appoint Darren Fletcher the new boss.
However, the squad at Fletcher’s disposal was missing practically all of the key figures of Lawrence’s successful teams, with the 2025/26 squad seeing a handful of first year scholars and even talents playing multiple age groups up.
This sees youngsters from the U16s fast tracked, which speaks volumes about how highly rated they are within the club.
Now, during United’s second fixture in the U18 Premier League season, we saw exactly why both JJ Gabriel and Kai Rooney have been pushed up into the U18s.
JJ Gabriel and Kai Rooney warming up with Manchester United teammates.
Photo by Anthony Devlin/Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United’s U18s thrashed Middlesbrough 5-0 on Saturday afternoon, to be joint top of the league with Manchester City.
It was a proper thrashing as United could have scored more had the finishing been more clinical. Bendito Mantato opened the scoring for the Red Devils, cutting in on his left foot before a smart finish into the near corner.
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Amir Ibragimov added his second of the season with an excellent finish from range into the top corner, but it was Gabriel who made the headlines.
Gabriel scored twice while playing up front which two proper striker’s goals, demonstrating his superb ability despite being just 14.
The scoring was concluded by Kai Rooney who bagged the first of his career at an U18 level, showing strong movement in the box to swivel into a volley before benefitting from a deflection.
Rooney has been fast-tracked by United, with the son of club legend Wayne Rooney seen as one of the best in the country.
Rooney proving he is deserving of fast-tracking by Manchester United
Earlier this summer, Rooney was scoring for United’s U16s in the NI Super Cup, and soon after this he was fast tracked to the U19s in the Mladen Ramljak tournament, before being part of the U18s regularly so far this season.
Despite his obvious ability and talent, some may have thought that Rooney was getting special treatment based on his father being United’s record goalscorer, but he has quickly dispelled any doubt over his place.
Rooney looks completely at ease in the U18s, both physically and technically, while his goal demonstrated his excellent ability in the box, managing to change his body shape and turn to get a shot off in difficult circumstances.
With that first goal, the 15-year-old should have all the confidence in the world to go on and really make U18 football his playground, which he very well might do.
Rooney being thought of next to Gabriel could see him earn recognition from Ruben Amorim, and at 15, he is also able to make his debut if United deem fit.
He has a long way to go before that will happen, but if he starts free-scoring then it might be inevitable.