JJ Gabriel and Godwill Kukonki both received call-ups to England youth squads this month, and they were in action on Wednesday.
While all eyes will be on Manchester United’s senior players on international duty, there is also a healthy number of academy players who have been called up.
United’s youth players on international duty, with JJ Gabriel’s involvement for England at an under-17 level among the headlines.
As was Godwill Kukonki playing for England’s under-18 side. With both starting for their teams on Wednesday.
JJ Gabriel celebrates scoring at Old Trafford in FA Youth Cup game
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
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JJ Gabriel celebrates, in Man Utd red kit
Photo by Anthony Devlin/Manchester United via Getty Images
JJ Gabriel starts for England under-17 debut
It was Gabriel’s first England under-17 call-up, a reward for his impressive form with United over the course of this season.
The 15-year-old was among the youngest in the team, but was put straight into the starting line-up as England took on the Faroe Islands, with the number 10 on his back.
Gabriel played 75 minutes in a 3-0 win for England as a left-winger, in which he didn’t get on the scoresheet, with the assists unknown for the game, given it was untelevised.
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JJ Gabriel
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Godwill Kukonki plays for England under-18 in new milestone for Manchester United defender
While Gabriel was in the under-17 side, moving up into the under-18s this international break has been Kukonki, with the defender starting at centre-back in a 4-1 win against Bulgaria.
It was an under-19 European Championship 2027 qualifier, with the under-18 side under Ben Futchner looking to earn a place in that competition next summer.
Kukonki played the entire game, with the under-18 squad including some real top talents such as United target Jeremy Monga, which shows how highly regarded the defender is.
England are likely trying to fast-track Kukonki, with DR Congo also wanting to call him up, with the 17-year-old probably already a first-team player for the African side if they managed to convince him.
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