JJ Gabriel has shone for Manchester United U18s this seasonplaceholder image
JJ Gabriel has shone for Manchester United U18s this season | Manchester United via Getty Images
The 15-year-old trained with the Man Utd first-team squad ahead of their clash with Aston Villa.
The 15-year-old, who has been dubbed the 'next Neymar' due to his immense technical ability and idolisation of the Brazil star, trained with the United first-team squad again this week ahead of their Premier League clash with Aston Villa. Gabriel has been a standout performer at youth level for United this season and has regularly trained with the senior side, despite the fact he can't play for them.
As he was only 14 when the current season began, the teenage attacker is ineligible to feature for either the United first-team or the U21s this campaign. Gabriel has scored 20 goals in 22 appearances for the U18s this season, with nine goals in his last six matches. He hopes to make headlines again next week when United host Sunderland in the FA Youth Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford.
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Carrick gives verdict on JJ Gabriel
JJ Gabriel could be given a chance for Manchester United in pre-season, though there is no chance he will feature for them during the current campaign.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Aston Villa match, Michael Carrick was asked whether he would even consider Gabriel for selection if he were eligible. "He is too young," Carrick told reporters at Carrington.
When asked if he found it difficult to manage a 15-year-old who attracts so much hype and attention, the United head coach added: "No, he's doing really well, JJ. We've got some really good young players in the academy and we try and get the younger players up as much as we can. The 21s are kicking off in 25 minutes as well, so we're looking forward to finishing this and going to watch them. I'd much rather be here, I must say!
"So, yeah, we're always trying to... Expose and give that exposure to the players to come and train and feel it. JJ is a big talent, it's pretty obvious to know that and he's had a really good season for the under-18s. We obviously think an awful lot of him, but patience is important in managing everything that comes with that and working with him in development as we do with all the different age groups and younger players and picking the right moment to step up, picking the moment to leave them in a certain place, and ups and downs. What he's done when he's trained, he's done well as you'd expect, and it's good to have the younger players come up with us."
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