Manchester United starlet JJ Gabriel has made headlines after scoring for the Red Devils in the FA Youth Cup at just 15 years of age
JJ Gabriel celebrates scoring
JJ Gabriel is showing talent beyond his years(Image: Anthony Devlin/Manchester United via Getty Images)
All you need to know about young Manchester United star JJ Gabriel after he made history at Old Trafford
History-making Youth Cup debut: JJ Gabriel became the youngest player ever to feature for Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup. He made his start for the Under-18 side on Tuesday evening at the age of 15 years, two months and three days.
Previous record broken: Gabriel's historic appearance surpassed the previous record set by another highly-rated United academy graduate, Omari Forson. Forson's benchmark for the competition had stood at 15 years and four months old.
Match-winning contribution: The young forward's debut was impactful beyond just breaking the age record by scoring the decisive goal. Gabriel netted the match-winner in the game, securing a crucial 1-0 victory against Peterborough at Old Trafford.
First-team training opportunity: It is highly unusual for a player of his age to be included, but Gabriel recently spent time training alongside the first-team squad. This opportunity reflects his status as one of the most highly-rated emerging talents within the academy setup.
Meeting with the manager: The wonderkid was formally introduced to the first-team manager, Ruben Amorim, during his time at the Carrington training complex. Amorim has already had a closer look at the youngster's ability in a senior training environment.
Amorim's training philosophy: Amorim explained that allowing young talents to train with the first team is a deliberate strategy. He wants to give them a taste of the "pace" and "difficulties" of the senior game, not just for immediate selection but for long-term development.
First-team exposure: Beyond training, Gabriel and his family were given further exposure to the senior environment at Old Trafford. They were invited to sit in the directors' box for the opening Premier League match of the season against Arsenal.
Highly-rated: The forward is considered one of the most exceptional talents to progress through the Manchester United academy system in recent years. This high rating is what has driven the club's decision to integrate him into senior activities earlier than is typical.