Manchester United might not be a particularly happy place at present but at least the future looks positive.
With Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho now the dual posterboys of the Premier League giants, with an uber-talented Under 18 squad dominating the domestic landscape, excitement is growing about Manchester United’s next generation.
This week, meanwhile, came the news that 14-year-old Joseph ‘JJ’ Gabriel had been promoted to Man United’s Under 18 roster.
Gabriel, Player of the Tournament during a trip to Hong Kong over the summer, has been nicknamed ‘Kid Messi’ in some sections of social media.
Another Carrington starlet, meanwhile, is earning comparisons of his own with a bonafide Barcelona legend.
And while no one is suggesting that Jay McEvoy is destined to become Manchester United’s answer to Xavi Hernandez right now, his supreme composure in even the tightest of gaps means the 15-year-old midfielder certainly would not look out of place in Barca’s fabled La Masia system.
Manchester United’s Jay McEvoy earns Xavi comparisons
The talents of young Jay McEvoy have caught on in scouring circles and appear to have made it all the way to Italy.
The Republic of Ireland youth star was highlighted by Tuttomercatoweb as their Talent of the Day; the Italian publication labelling McEvoy ‘one of the brightest jewels of the Manchester United academy’.
McEvoy stands out, TMW write, for his ‘tactical intelligence’, his athletic prowess, and his ability to contribute effectively at both ends of the pitch.
“In possession, McEvoy is adept at keeping calm under pressure and distributing the ball accurately, facilitating the build-up play,” Tuttomercatoweb add, claiming that the player McEvoy most resembles is none other than Xavi.
“He also has decent ball recovery ability, making him a versatile player capable of adapting to a variety of roles in midfield.
“These attributes make him an interesting prospect for the future of Manchester United, with the potential to develop further and perhaps find a place in the first-team.”
McEvoy hoping to earn place in Adam Lawrence’s United side
Of course, those first-team days are still a distant dream.
McEvoy will celebrate his 16th birthday this month. As such, the natural next step will be to compete for a place in Man United’s excellent Under-18 side.
With Zach Baumann, Jack Fletcher and Jayce Fitzgerald among those hoping to make the step up to Premier League 2 level in the near future, McEvoy could potentially be the next in line to join Adam Lawrence’s ranks.
“I’m very proud,” Lawrence told Manchester United’s official website in May after his U18 side – including Harry Amass and Ethan Wheatley – completed a domestic treble in 2023/24.
“If you look at the season as a whole, it has genuinely has been an amazing achievement for everyone involved. Whether you are a coach, a member of staff, all the support team around the squad, all of the players, it has just been one of those memorable years.
“It’s a big credit to everybody and a big well done.”
It’s an amazing achievement by the players and working with them on the pitch every day, it has been a genuine pleasure,” Lawrence added.
“Obviously it has been challenging working with young players, and there is a lot going on in their lives and in their football careers, which you have to try and help them with.”
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