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Manchester United have confirmed their first travelling squad ahead of this summer’s opening pre-season clash against Wrexham, scheduled for Saturday.

Except for Benjamin Sesko and the newly signed Karl Darlow, all major players are part of the travelling party to Helsinki. The squad also includes Andrey Santos.

Several senior stars were granted extended breaks after their exertions at the World Cup. Consequently, a number of promising talents from the academy have been included in the trip to Finland.

However, one name missing from the list caught the attention of supporters — JJ Gabriel has not been selected for the Wrexham match.

The 15-year-old is regarded as one of the brightest prospects to come through the Carrington academy system. There had even been speculation last season that he might make history as the youngest-ever player to feature in the FA Cup for the club.

That opportunity did not come to fruition, while Premier League regulations prevented an appearance in that competition. This season, however, is seen as the campaign when the England Under-17 international could finally make his senior debut.

Fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the youngster at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium will have to wait a little longer. The forward’s father revealed that the teenager has been granted an extended rest period following a busy year.

Gabriel only returned to pre-season training a day before the squad’s departure. The expectation is that he will be part of the team for the upcoming friendly against Rosenborg in Trondheim.

“JJ Gabriel will miss Manchester United’s game against Wrexham tomorrow as today was his first session back with the group – he had extended leave. However, he will be READY for the next game against Rosenborg,” his father shared in a statement.

During the previous season, JJ Gabriel produced an outstanding record, scoring 26 goals and providing four assists in just 29 matches across all competitions.

His exceptional performances earned him multiple awards, and supporters are eager to see him shine during pre-season as he continues his development with the senior team.