JJ Gabriel has been a regular topic of conversation at Manchester United recently, and the 15-year-old is well known to caretaker manager Darren Fletcher, who managed the wonderkid in the under-18s
JJ Gabriel will have to wait to make his Manchester United debut(Image: Zohaib Alam – MUFC, Manchester United via Getty Images)
Manchester United caretaker manager Darren Fletcher has confirmed that JJ Gabriel will not feature in the squad to face Brighton in the FA Cup this weekend.
The 15-year-old is ineligible for Premier League action due to his age, but FA Cup regulations would permit his inclusion. Gabriel has netted 11 goals in 14 outings for United’s Under-18s this campaign. Fletcher previously managed the U18 side before stepping up to first-team responsibilities, giving him extensive experience working with the promising teenager.
United welcomed Gabriel and his family to the directors’ box for the Arsenal match earlier this season, and the youngster has already participated in several first-team training sessions.
Gabriel is touted as the next big thing to come out of Carrington(Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
Despite supporters suggesting the forward could feature in an FA Cup squad, Fletcher ruled out his involvement against Brighton at Old Trafford this weekend.
“Well, he could be, but he’s not going to be because obviously anybody could be picked,” Fletcher explained. “JJ is a fantastic talent.”
“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.
Darren Fletcher is currently in caretaker charge(Image: Getty Images)
“He’s just 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.
“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 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.”
Gabriel made history as United’s youngest-ever FA Youth Cup representative last month. He was given a starting berth against Peterborough and netted the decisive goal in a 1-0 triumph at Old Trafford.
Gabriel featured at just 15 years, two months and three days old, surpassing the previous record held by United academy product Omari Forson (15 years and four months). Digital records documenting United’s Youth Cup participants date back to the 2006/2007 campaign.
Ruben Amorim was previously asked about Gabriel before the festive season. “Like everyone, I know he is a really talented guy and everyone paid attention on social media,” Amorim shared.
“You could see the Under-21s had a game and we had fewer players and tried to pick players for training that have talent, not just for me to see for tomorrow, but for them to feel what it means to be in the first team, the difficulties playing against our defenders, the difficulty of our training, the pace.
“If we can use every training we have to show the kids what they need to do to be here, it is important, not just for JJ but for everyone.”
