Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel has been told he will train with Ruben Amorim’s first-team squad at times this season even though he is too young to be part of the club’s FA Youth Cup quest this term.
The 14-year-old winger committed his future to United this summer.
So highly is the youngster rated that technical director Jason Wilcox played an active role in those discussions.
Gabriel made his Premier League Under-18 debut by starting Saturday’s 1-0 win at Everton, excelling against opponents who in many instances were older and much bigger.
He was then invited into the Old Trafford directors’ box for United’s Premier League game against Arsenal the following day in a further sign of a determination to make him feel part of the club.
Amorim has now met the youngster at United’s Carrington training ground.
The United head coach will be seeing more of Gabriel as he will be drafted into the first team training group on occasion.
While it is not unusual for academy players to train with the first team, especially immediately after games when some senior members of Amorim’s squad are doing recovery work, it is rare for the youngest players in the Under-18 set-up to do so.
Gabriel will not be part of United’s quest to win the FA Youth Cup this season as players have to be born before the cut-off date of 31 August 2010.
The teenager shot to prominence in April when he became the youngest United player to feature for their Under-18 side, scoring twice in a 13-1 hammering of Leeds.
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