Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel was at it again, securing a brace as Darren Fletcher’s U18s defeated Nottingham Forest 5-2.
Manchester United Under 18s made it six wins in a row in the U18 Premier League as Darren Fletcher’s side defeated Nottingham Forest with a convincing 5-2 victory.
Wonderkid JJ Gabriel has been a hot topic recently with his standout performances for the academy, and he was the centre of attention once again, securing a brace on the way to all three points, helped as well by goals from Jay McEvoy, Louie Bradbury and Noah Ajayi.
The young Reds headed into the game following their confirmation of a place in the Premier League Cup final thanks to a 3-1 win over West Ham.
Gabriel dropped two brilliant moments of genius in his solo strikes, starting with the 15-year-old evading multiple challenges, cutting in on his favoured right foot and striking his effort beyond the goalkeeper via a deflection to get his first of the afternoon.
This was shortly followed by another piece of excellence as the teenager shrugged off a challenge, cutting in once again and whipping his effort into the far top corner, leaving the keeper helpless.
Fletcher’s side showing pure dominance
Fletcher’s side have closed the gap on frontrunners and rivals Manchester City to two points as they look to secure top spot.
Manchester United were not there to mess around, taking the game from kick-off with half-chances created throughout the first 20 minutes.
However, the first goal, coming from McEvoy pressing from the front, set the tone for the rest of the half, as United quickly took the lead, which was instantly doubled and tripled before half-time.
Bradbury’s headed goal at the start of the second half, and Ajayi’s 78th-minute near-post strike was enough to hold off two Forest goals as the full-time whistle eventually sounded.
Gabriel is proving to be the star of the show again, as attention turns to Sunderland, who will look to spoil the party.
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When will Gabriel break into the first team?
The teenager has already trained with the first team this season, clearly catching the attention of first-team boss Michael Carrick. However, the Premier League age restrictions mean a player must be a minimum of 15 years old at the beginning of the season.
The beginning of next season could be the perfect introduction for the youngster, with United competing in four competitions again if they secure a place in the Champions League, providing the chances for rotation and calls to the academy.
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Gabriel may become United’s youngest ever debutant, potentially taking over from David Gaskell, who played aged 16 years and 19 days old in the 1956 FA Charity Shield.
Whilst fans patiently wait for the day he makes his mark, Gabriel continues to shine in the academy, as they look to secure some trophies to their name, with the Premier League Cup, FA Youth Cup and U18 Premier League all up for grabs.
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