Manchester United’s JJ Gabriel has won the Premier League Under-18s Player of the Season award and Darren Fletcher says the club as an ‘amazing talent’ in its ranks.
The forward is just 15 years old but has shone against older players within the age bracket, scoring his twenty first league goal of the season on the weekend.
Gabriel will likely be involved on Thursday as United tackle Manchester City within the FA Youth Cup final.
The London-born teenager has been capped as much as Under-17 level by England and the BBC suggests he will likely be involved within the Red Devils’ first team pre-season preparations this summer.
Under-18s boss Fletcher is keen to maintain expectations under control, but cannot deny that the 15-year-old is a standout performer among the many country’s brightest young stars.
‘JJ’s a tremendous talent,’ Fletcher told the BBC.
‘He’s a implausible kid. He brings an enthusiasm to the pitch day-after-day to learn, to need to play, to be on the ball. He’s eager to do higher, to enhance and to learn. He takes constructive criticism well and I’ve got an excellent relationship with him.
‘I do think we’d like to recollect he’s a child and likewise he’s been a part of a very good team, and the players have helped him as well.
‘But JJ has scored the goals and goals all the time get the limelight. He has a serious future and is someone I’ve enjoyed working with immensely.
‘His next steps are something people above me will determine. We wish him to go up there and thrive, so we’d like to get him within the position to do this.’
Reacting to winning the Under-18s Player of the Season award, Gabriel told MUTV: ‘I’m delighted to win this award. I thank my coaches and team-mates for helping me win this amazing award.
‘Since we got here together because the Under-18s, we’ve change into a excellent team. Everyone looks out for one another and all of us work hard for one another. I feel we’ve had a excellent season.’
He added: ‘I’d say [the Academy] helped me mature loads. They assist me to be very humble and keep my feet on the bottom.
‘I’m delighted to be working with him [Fletcher], he’s a tremendous coach and has helped me a lot this season to change into a greater player and the most effective version of myself. I’ve got to say you’ve got to take care of understanding on the training pitch each day, giving it my all and dealing hard within the gym to remain fit and never get injured.
‘My family have helped me loads, through tough times and good times. They arrive to all my matches, regardless of how far or close, and I really like them to bits.’
Gabriel’s father, Joe O’Cearuill, is a two-cap Republic of Ireland international and was once on the books of Arsenal, turning out for Brighton, Barnet and Forest Green Rovers, amongst others, over his profession.
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