JJ Gabriel was kept on the bench by Michael Carrick for Manchester United’s dominant pre-season win over Rosenborg.
For the first time in his career, 15-year-old JJ Gabriel was named in a first-team matchday squad for Manchester United.
United beat Rosenborg 5-0 in the pre-season friendly, but JJ Gabriel was an unused substitute.
JJ Gabriel sent a message of “patience” on social media after the match, and that’s exactly what the teenage wonderkid will need during his development at Carrington.
JJ Gabriel sent this message after missing out on minutes vs Rosenborg – Do you think he will get a chance in upcoming games?
Was it the right call from Carrick or should he have got five minutes at the end?
JJ Gabriel can learn from Chido Obi advice at Man Utd
Just days after the Rosenborg win, JJ Gabriel starred for United’s U21s, scoring and assisting.
Many fans may not know that it was JJ Gabriel’s first-ever match for the Under-21s as he was ineligible to play for them last season due to his age.
It is a stark reminder of just how young Gabriel actually is, so talk of a first-team appearance is still very premature.
Last season, Under-21s coach Travis Binnion gave some advice to Chido Obi and spoke about the importance of not rushing young players into first-team action.
“It’s hard. He’s not on his own, it’s really hard. Lads get in there [first-team squad], and then they don’t play games, so that is a different challenge,” Binnion said, as quoted by MEN.
“When you’re in the first-team squad, all that matters is Saturday at 3pm or Tuesday at 7.45pm. That is the whole focus, and he’s not a priority within that, which is normal. But he is a priority for us and he really needs to see and understand this is a golden period for him to develop his game.”
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He won the U18s Premier League Player of the Year
JJ Gabriel needs more development at U21s level
Last season’s FA Youth Cup final exposed a few areas for JJ Gabriel to work on.
It is no criticism of the academy star, after all he is only 15 years old. But fans cannot expect so much so soon from him, even with his generational talent.
Gabriel is only just stepping into Under-21s football, and that will pose a whole new challenge in terms of tempo and physicality.
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The signs are already promising that he can handle it, with a goal and assist against Burnley’s U21s on his debut.
But rushing Gabriel to the first team will only add unnecessary pressure. United have promised him a first-team pathway to fend off interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid, and it is coming, but there is no need to rush.
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