Manchester United’s academy keeps producing elite talents for the first team, as Ruben Amorim has found out since taking charge.
Last season, he handed debuts to Chido Obi, Harry Amass, and Tyler Fredricson. And more could be on the way this season.
One of the brightest prospects at Carrington currently is JJ Gabriel, who is only 14 and is already tipped for the very top.
In fact, Amorim has been left impressed by what he has seen so far, and even called him up to train with the first team on occasions this season.
Fletcher has a new role for JJ Gabriel
And new U18 manager Darren Fletcher is helping elevate his game even further by playing him closer to goal instead of out wide as per The Daily Mail.
The England U15 international usually played out on the left, where he could use his quick feet and pace to beat a man before trying to score or find someone in the box.
But Fletcher has utilised JJ Gabriel as a false nine, in the absence of Louie Bradbury, and the move has paid off handsomely with the Englishman netting five times in three games.
In the last game against Derby U18s, he scored a first-half hat-trick, which left fans salivating at what he could offer the first team in the years to come.
“To see 14-year-old JJ Gabriel score a hat-trick in the Under-18s’ 4-0 win over Derby County at the weekend was interesting on a number of levels.
“The first-half hat-trick itself was no surprise given Gabriel is the shining light of United’s academy, and he is now up to eight goals in six games at the age level.
Paying off handsomely
“But Gabriel was deployed through the middle by boss Darren Fletcher as a false nine, rather than off the left where he has typically featured through the age groups.
“Speaking to one well-placed academy source, Confidential was told that the switch is seen as a way to further elevate the teenager’s game by getting him closer to goal.
“While playing wide left allows him one-versus-one match-ups, he has been earmarked to play as a false nine while Louie Bradbury remains sidelined. Right now, it’s paying off handsomely.”
United could do with goalscorers based on the team’s current struggles to convert their chances. It will be intriguing to see how JJ Gabriel manages against senior opponents during first team training sessions.
If he can impress, there is no saying how far he can go this season.
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Ayantan Chowdhury
Ayantan has worked for 10 years in the Indian sports media industry, writing for the biggest newspapers and websites but his heart was always set on writing about his favourite club. Currently an editor at The Peoples Person. You can follow him on X: @ayantanc_25
