Michael Carrick promotes wonderkid JJ Gabriel to Man United first-team training as stats emerge
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Credit: Imago Fri 13 March 2026 10:00, UK JJ Gabriel has been promoted to train with the Manchester United first-team this week after continuing to impress. The wonderkid added two more spectacular goals to his tally against Nottingham Forest Under-18s last week, bringing his record to 20 goals in just 22 games across all competitions this season.The 15-year-old has scored eight goals in his last five U18 Premier League matches, and is generating significant excitement at Old Trafford.Decision-makers had feared that they would lose Gabriel before he turned 17, but the youngster committed his future to the club last summer.Man United’s position of only playing Premier League football until next season likely means the midfielder will have to wait to make his debut.🚨👀 Bryan Mbeumo on Man United next gem JJ Gabriel: “He’s good, really good.
He has a lot of composure in front of goal, he has a good shot, and he’s… pic.twitter.com/03upN6ugYh— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 13, 2026 View Tweet MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES ⚽ Man United Matchday ⚽ Team news, line-ups, expert previews and tactical analysis for every Manchester United fixture. VISIT THE MATCH HUBJJ Gabriel continues to wow Michael CarrickFormer Man United chief scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider last month that Gabriel has stunned coaches at Old Trafford over the last year.Despite playing three years ahead of his age, the talent already appears to have outgrown U18s football.And he could well go straight into the first team before he plays for the U21s, as many of the most highly rated young players do.Gabriel has drawn some comparisons to Arsenal’s Max Dowman, who broke through at the start of the season aged 15.The midfielder was handed his Premier League debut, his Champions League debut, and has since started games in both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, impressing massively.A similar rise has is expected of Gabriel, and interim manager Michael Carrick appears to have taken the first steps towards making that happen.
On Thursday, The Talent Hunter shared to Instagram that the teenager has been training with the Man United first team again this week.The midfielder’s brace against Nottingham Forest took him to the top of the U18 Premier League scoring charts, with Carrick certainly among those keeping track.Can Gabriel break Man United record?Man United’s youngest-ever player was goalkeeper David Gaskell, who appeared at the age of 16 years and 19 days in a 1-0 win over Manchester City in 1956, and sadly passed away aged 84 last year.The most recent player to come close to that record was Angel Gomes, who debuted at the age of 16 years and eight months in 2017. Man United – youngest playersAge at debutYear of debutDavid Gaskell16 years, 19 days1956Jeff Whitefoot16 years, 3 months, 15 days1950Duncan Edwards16 years, 6 months, 4 days1953Angel Gomes16 years, 8 months, 20 days2017Willie Anderson16 years, 11 months, 4 days1963Gabriel does not turn 16 until October, and thus has a great chance of breaking the record and becoming the youngest Man United player ever.The youngster may have to hope for a lower-league opponent in the first two rounds of the Carabao Cup, and for the next permanent manager to see the point of handing him the debut.