Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel has been labelled a ‘future star’ by Marcus Rashford.
Red Devils history was made on Saturday when the 14-year-old became the youngest ever player to feature for the club’s Under-18s before making his mark with two goals.
Gabriel is considered one of the most talented youngsters in the country and Rashford clearly feels that way too.
‘U18 debut at U14. two goals on debut,’ Gabriel wrote on Instagram after Saturday’s 13-1 win over the Leeds U18 side.
Rashford was among the hundreds in the comments as he wrote ‘future star’ with Gabriel thanking him by way of an emoji.
Under-18s boss Adam Lawrence finally gave Gabriel his debut, which has been weeks in the making, with a rampant United leading Leeds United 10-1 midway through the second half.
Marcus Rashford left this comment on JJ Gabriel’s Instagram post following his brace
The 14-year-old became the youngest player in Man United history to play for their Under-18s
Rashford clearly feels that United can expect big things from the player in the future
Victor Musa scoring a double-hat-trick while Jim Thwaites also netted a hat-trick before Gabriel’s late brace.
Mail Sport produced an extensive background read on Gabriel last month, detailing his rise through the ranks and how Nike see him as the future of their Mercurial brand.
There is interest from a host of top clubs and United know they are in a battle to keep him with two key windows, one at 14 and one at 16, important in academy football.
Gabriel’s promotion to the Under-18s underlines how much United are keen to keep him as they look to show him his route to the first team.
It capped off a brilliant day for the club’s academy with a 13-1 win over rivals Leeds United sending a message to title rivals Manchester City.
Musa, who started as the main striker, finished the day with six goals, while Thwaites scored a hat-trick of his own in a breathtaking performance.
It was 9-0 at half-time thanks to those two, with James Bailey and Dan Armer getting on the scoresheet either side of a Leeds consolation goal.
This was a truly emphatic response by Lawrence’s side following the Under-18s disappointing FA Youth Cup semi-final defeat on penalties away to Aston Villa.
Thwaites, who missed a penalty that night, as well as Amir Ibragimov, who had a hat-trick of assists during this rampant first half at Carrington, firmly put their misses behind them to star.
But amid all the headlines it was Gabriel’s historic debut, capped off with a brace, that will be remembered by those at Carrington as he continues his ascent up the age groups.
