Is 15-year-old Gabriel poised to become the youngest player in Manchester United's history?

Last month, Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick balanced praise for 15-year-old JJ Gabriel, a talented young player, with the awareness that he will determine whether he gets first-team time.

“JJ is one of the boys,” he continued. “He has great talent. He trains with us often and gains experience.

“He’s physically adapting to each step, and we’re just developing him.”


Four days earlier, Carrick was at Leigh Sports Village as Gabriel, making his Premier League 2 debut against Ipswich, sprinted on to Jack Fletcher's through ball and scooped the ball over an advancing goalkeeper from the edge of the box with his right.

Gabriel's bold finish showed his thinking, as the easiest way to score was a low shot or racing around the goalkeeper.

Gabriel played a different, better game against Leicester seven days later.

Taking Tynan Thompson's short pass in a central position with his back to goal just inside the box, Gabriel's initial touch was a left-foot drag back to twist about and face the proper way.

After being prodded by an opponent, he pinched the ball to his left with his right foot, sliding by a second defender.


Another touch helped him stabilize before he fired a low shot into the net from inside the six-yard box.

The entire maneuver took under five seconds.

Nobody could resist being impressed. Millions of people have seen the goal on social media.

‘Sometimes you can't not pick him.'

Ryan Giggs, United's record appearance maker, debuted at 17 in 1991.

Sir Alex Ferguson first witnessed Giggs play young football in a Cliff training ground trial game, like Carrick with Gabriel.

His first autobiography, Managing My Life, describes the experience:

“A gold miner who has searched every river or mountain and then finds a nugget could not feel more exhilarated than I did watching Giggs that day.

I'll never forget seeing him glide across the pitch like he wasn't there. He seemed relaxed and natural in the park, like a puppy chasing silver paper in the breeze with his head high.”

Giggs can't judge his appearance. He recalls it in an interesting Rio Ferdinand Presents interview with his former United teammate: External Giggs assessed the debrief:

You must be patient sometimes. Sometimes you have to pick him and train him in the first team for a month, six months, or a year.

At that in-between stage, he wants to be on the first team. He thinks he should be in the team every week, but Michael says, "No, you need to play games because it's not going to do you any good traveling here, there, and every place and getting five minutes here, 10 minutes there."

Plan the correct course.

Gabriel seems in that ‘in-between’ place Giggs mentioned.

The forward appeared in all United pre-season games this summer except the first in Helsinki.

He only played once, as a late substitute against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm, when Uruguay captain Jose Maria Gimenez, twice Gabriel's age, clattered him from behind.

Gabriel has trained with the first team and joked with Benjamin Sesko on several United videos this season. Carrick calls the child “one of the boys."

Gabriel was rumored to make his Manchester United debut in the EFL Cup third round, surpassing goalkeeper David Gaskell, who made his senior debut at 16 years and 19 days. Gabriel turns 16 on 6 October.

Is that feasible given United's poor start and Premier League match against Brighton at Old Trafford on 16 September?

Champions League games have 11 substitutes, compared to nine domestically. Could he play against Sabah FK on Thursday? He did not train with the first team on Wednesday, so maybe not.

United's academy is prioritizing the Under-19 UEFA Youth League after withdrawing from the EFL Trophy and National League Cup this season. Last season's FA Youth Cup final squad is eligible. Is it a better stage?

Gabriel was looking forward to a Premier League 2 Manchester derby at City on Saturday, but United's Thursday European commitments postponed it.

When Ferguson banned media from talking to him 35 years ago, Giggs was happy.

Social media and forums were absent. Huge expectations, discussions, and demands cannot be ignored.

Gabriel's friends definitely have their own vision for his future.

United play Brentford at Leigh on 18 September in their final Premier League 2 game before the international break. After that, England's age groups play.

Gabriel's skills are paving the way. Where does it go?