Manchester United winger JJ Gabriel missed the Reds' 3-2 victory over Brentford U21s on Friday night in the Premier League 2
JJ Gabriel has been absent from Carrington since scoring a hat-trick against Sabah FK in the UEFA Youth League
JJ Gabriel has been absent from Carrington since scoring a hat-trick against Sabah FK in the UEFA Youth League(Image: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick is excited to see which youngster earns the next opportunity, after Shea Lacey scored his first senior goal and JJ Gabriel requested to leave the club, this week. The Reds were left stunned when the 15-year-old wonderkid, who joined United for this summer's pre-season tour, asked for his registration with the club to be cancelled.
Gabriel had been in line to feature in the first team's matchday squad for the Carabao Cup tie against Brighton and Hove Albion. However, he has not been at Carrington since scoring a hat-trick against Sabah FK in the UEFA Youth League. Gabriel has instead spent the week with his entourage in Spain, where he could enter into talks with Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The teenager's team believe promises of senior involvement have been broken, which is why they want Gabriel to leave the club. He played just eight minutes of first-team football in pre-season and was left out of the club's Champions League squad, meaning he was ineligible to make his debut against Sabah last week.
In Gabriel's absence from the squad on Wednesday night, Lacey took his opportunity. The winger scored in the eighth minute and was United's standout player, as they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat.
Ahead of this Sunday's trip to Fulham, Carrick told MUTV: "It was amazing for Shea and his family and everyone at the academy, connected to the academy, I think to bring Shea through on his journey and to see him start a game at Old Trafford. And for him to do what he does best. I've seen him do that on the pitches outside there [at Carrington] quite a few times and that's his little spot, you know? Getting there and turning on his left foot and coming inside.
"I'm delighted for him. The way the game pans out and the finish of the game and the result, I think it takes it away a little bit but, when the dust settles and he can have a moment, I think he can be very proud of himself because it was a big moment for him.
"That's it [providing more encouragement to those in the U21s and U18s]. To have continued moments like that. The history of this club is littered with them. You could go on forever talking about them and that's the magic of it. That's the beauty of it.
"That's why so many people in the academy work so hard and it's what this club has been built upon. So Shea's had that next moment, or the current moment I should say, and we'll see who brings it on to having the next opportunity because we always look forward to the next one."
Gabriel could still be the next academy youngster to start for United. However, the prospect of him staying at Old Trafford is looking less and less likely. United have not given up hope of persuading the teenager to stay, hence why they rejected his request to be de-registered.
When asked specifically about Gabriel during Friday's press conference, Carrick said: "I think I'd just repeat what I said the other day, really. I think he's a young boy, JJ, and I think it's important that we certainly don't put anything out here.
"I think the exposure and the scrutiny and everything that, you got to be careful and be sensible and think of him as much as anything, so the situation will work itself out, whatever way it's going to work itself out. Making sure he's okay is the important thing."