Darren Fletcher says red-hot United academy star is “more than capable” of playing for the senior side

Manchester United Under-18 manager Darren Fletcher has showered praise on starlet JJ Gabriel. The young academy player has caught the imagination of fans with his performances this season, although a first-team bow has not been possible due to FA norms. Still only 15 years old, Gabriel has been a regular feature for the Under-18 side this campaign, registering 26 goals and four assists in 28 appearances. His efforts have already seen him win the inaugural Premier League Under-18 Player of the Season award. JJ Gabriel Stats: 2025/26 Season CompetitionAppearancesStartsGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played U18 Premier League2322233–1,968′ FA Youth Cup55312-498′ Total28272642-2,466′ Source: Transfermarkt. The Englishman is part of the team that has reached the final of the FA Youth Cup, where they will lock horns with bitter rivals Manchester City on 14 May at the Joie Stadium. Gabriel has already trained with the senior side on several occasions this season, even earning praise from Bryan Mbeumo. The teenager became the youngest goalscorer in United’s FA Youth Cup history following his goal in the 1-0 win over Peterborough in the third round of the tournament in December. There is belief that the player could make his record-breaking bow for the senior side next season, and Fletcher has now shared his thoughts on the matter. Ready to join United’s pre-season tour Speaking to The Athletic, Fletcher insisted that Gabriel has been a pleasure to work with. He said: “JJ’s an amazing talent and has an enthusiasm for football that he brings to the pitch every day: to learn, to want to play and be on the ball. He’s been a pleasure to work with. He’s a fantastic kid.” The United Under-18 manager went on to state that the young centre-forward is ready to make the jump up to the senior side and join them in the upcoming pre-season tour, adding: “All our players are capable of going on pre-season, not just JJ. It’ll depend on who else is selected and what he needs for his next step.” “Getting variation in your development is really important. We want him to go up there and thrive. We need to get him in the position to do that, and even if he doesn’t, that’s not the end of the world. We always need to be careful. They need to experience that, but it’s making sure it’s at the right time, and understanding why and what the needs are.” “Once you get thrown in there, you’re judged very, very quickly, rightly or wrongly. It’s important that we do right by his development. JJ’s more than capable to go in, as are a lot of our young players. They all get experiences with the first team. It goes under the radar how many of our young players get tastes of the first team.” Gabriel part of an impressive United bunch While Fletcher was full of praise for Gabriel, he also pointed out the entire team’s contribution to the player’s rise. He stated: “We have to remember he’s a kid and also, he’s been part of a really good team.” “JJ has recognised the amount of help he’s had from team-mates to get on the ball into those positions to score goals. We’ve got a lot of good players. JJ has scored the goals, and goals always get the limelight.” “He’s bought into – as all the attacking players have – the out-of-possession stuff, the real team ethos. JJ takes constructive criticism fantastically and I’ve got a great relationship with him. He has a major future.” Final Thoughts It already appears that United have a generational talent on their hands and they must carefully nurture him to help him reach his true potential. There is already a queue forming to prise Gabriel away from Old Trafford, so the Red Devils have to ensure they secure his future as well. 26 G/A in 23 game at U18 level… at 15. JJ Gabriel is on another level. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/MtdCm4RgD4 — Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 13, 2026 Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.