Manchester United talent JJ Gabriel is widely-regarded at the club and he has continued to impress senior figures
JJ Gabriel
JJ Gabriel has started both of United's FA Youth Cup wins this season(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel has been called-up to first team training for the first time under Michael Carrick this week. The 15-year-old has impressed with his performances in the academy after starting in both of United's FA Youth Cup wins this season.
Gabriel has 14 goals in 19 games for the Under-18s in the league this campaign and has taken part in a handful of first-team training sessions already. Ruben Amorim previously called on the teenager before he was sacked.
According to The Sun, Gabriel was included in United's first-team training session this week after impressing Carrick. The report states that senior academy players were unavailable due to them playing on Monday night against West Brom - which the Under-21s won 5-1.
United players had Monday off before Tuesday was used as a recovery day for the players who started the 3-2 win over Fulham. Gabriel cannot play in the Premier League as he is 15, meaning his professional debut will have to wait until the start of next season.
Following the business in January, United have had a number of academy players depart on loan until the end of the season. Sekou Kone, Jacob Devaney, Gabriele Biancheri, Ethan Wheatley and James Scanlon all secured deadline day loans.
Under-18s manager Darren Fletcher previously said that the hype around the teenager is 'deserved' after calls for him to play in the FA Cup defeat to Brighton. Gabriel wasn't used in the cup clash after the decision was made not to fast-track him into the first-team.
"JJ is a fantastic talent," he said. "I've enjoyed working with him immensely, getting to know him. He's a young lad with a massive sort of hype, you know there's a lot of noise around him and deservedly so because he's a real talented kid.
"He works hard. First thing I'd say is he loves football. He loves training, he loves playing, he loves having the ball, he loves expressing himself. He makes fantastic decisions.
"He's got an enthusiasm for the game that's just amazing. 15-year-old, a bright future ahead of him. I'm super excited by his talent, but the most important thing is that he keeps developing, and he's in the U18s team, and he's doing fantastically well, but he's still got lots to learn.
JJ Gabriel with Man Utd's Under-18s
JJ Gabriel has starred for Man Utd's Under-18s(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
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"He's developing within there. But the world's his oyster and he just needs to go on his journey and his time will come in due course. But for just now, it's a little bit early (to put him in the first team) I think and I think a lot of people would agree with me.
"But I couldn't speak highly enough of JJ. He's got an amazing family and amazing support around him and he's somebody we're delighted to have at the club.
"And we just hope he keeps improving, learning every day and just keep being the boy that he is really and enjoying love and playing football and going and expressing themselves and scoring lots of goals so the Manchester United under 18s win every game. And then I'll be a happy man."
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