Man Utd youngster JJ Gabriel scored a brace as the U18s comfortably beat Nottingham Forest 5-2 at the weekend.
09:28, 09 Mar 2026Updated 09:32, 09 Mar 2026
JJ Gabriel has been in superb form for the U18s.(Image: 2026 Manchester United FC)
Manchester United are not playing JJ Gabriel in the Under-21s this season because he was 14 when the campaign began. Gabriel has been in excellent form at Under-18 level, and fans have questioned why the exciting teenager hasn’t been given minutes in the higher age bracket.
United could have been fined for playing Gabriel in the U21 team due to his age at the start of the season, so it was agreed before the campaign that he would exclusively play U18 football.
United are developing Gabriel by playing him in the U18s and promoting him to first-team training on a more regular basis. The talented prospect only celebrated his 15th birthday in October.
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Gabriel may have already been included in a senior Premier League matchday squad this season if the rules were different. Because Gabriel was 14 at the start of the season, he is ineligible to play in the Premier League, although the FA Cup allows teenagers to feature.
United were knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton at the first hurdle, though. Darren Fletcher was in caretaker charge for that game, and he was asked whether Gabriel could be involved during the build-up.
Fletcher smiled, saying: “Well, he could be, but he’s not going to be because obviously anybody could be picked. But 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. “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 U18 team, and he’s doing fantastically well, but he’s still got lots to learn.
“The world is 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.”
Gabriel has 20 goals in 22 appearances across the U18 academy competitions this season.