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Manchester United’s teenage sensation JJ Gabriel has strongly suggested that he could be part of the senior team’s pre-season tour this summer. After an outstanding year with the academy sides, the highly rated 15-year-old took to social media to celebrate winning a prestigious individual award while hinting at his possible promotion to first-team action under Michael Carrick.

Brilliant season for the academy talent

Gabriel has quickly established himself as one of the brightest young prospects in English football. The youngster enjoyed an exceptional season, netting 23 goals in 23 league appearances for the Under-18s, which earned him the highly regarded Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award. Following a disappointing FA Youth Cup final loss to Manchester City, Gabriel expressed his gratitude in a social media post celebrating the honour, saying, “It’s a great honour to be awarded the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year. Thank you to everyone at Manchester United. I’d also like to thank all the fans for their continued support.”

Fans thrilled by pre-season clue

The most eye-catching part of his message came at the very end, where Gabriel concluded with the line: “See you in pre-season.” Those five words sparked excitement among fans, strongly implying that Manchester United plan to include the young forward in their senior squad preparations for the upcoming campaign. The club is said to be keen on creating a clear route to the first team for Gabriel, who has already participated in several training sessions with the senior group. With a number of international players expected to be unavailable due to the World Cup, the pre-season fixtures could offer the teenager a valuable opportunity to impress.

Carrick calls for patience in nurturing starlet

Interim boss Michael Carrick, who is poised to sign a two-year contract as permanent manager, has been closely following Gabriel’s progress. Due to age restrictions, the forward was not eligible for senior matchday squads at the start of the season when he was just 14. Speaking in March, Carrick explained, “He is not allowed to be part of a first-team squad on a matchday. He’s too young. JJ’s doing really well. We’ve got some really good players in the academy and we try to get the younger lads involved with the main group whenever possible to give them that exposure. JJ is a big talent, that’s quite clear, and he’s had an excellent season for the U18s. We rate him very highly, but patience is vital in managing his progress and picking the right time for him to step up. He’s trained well, and it’s great to have young players around.”

What lies ahead for Gabriel?

Manchester United will begin their pre-season fixtures against Wrexham in Finland on July 18, followed by a match against Rosenborg in Norway. The tour will conclude in Sweden with a clash against Atletico Madrid on August 1. Gabriel will be eager to feature prominently throughout the Scandinavian tour as he aims to secure a place in the senior setup for the new season.