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The chances of 15-year-old prodigy JJ Gabriel featuring in a first-team match for Manchester United have risen significantly after the academy attacker was included in Michael Carrick's squad for the upcoming leg of a preseason tour across northern Europe.
Gabriel turned heads in the U-18 Premier League last season, netting 26 goals across 26 appearances, despite beginning the campaign at just 14 years of age. That youth was precisely why the homegrown talent was ineligible for the Premier League, as regulations prohibit players from appearing in the division during the same season they turn 15—which Gabriel did last October.
He has already been invited to join first-team training sessions on numerous occasions and will become eligible for the Premier League in 2026–27. The logical next step for Gabriel would be gaining some senior match experience—and that opportunity could arrive very soon during preseason.
United continue their summer schedule with a fixture against Rosenborg in Trondheim, Norway on Friday evening, and Gabriel has been named by head coach Michael Carrick in a 25-man squad. Striker Ethan Wheatley has been left out from the group that fell to Wrexham in Finland last Saturday, with Gabriel stepping in as the sole change to the squad.
United U-18 boss Darren Fletcher said Gabriel is "more than capable" when asked at the close of 2025–26 whether a preseason with the senior side was a realistic prospect.
Gabriel, who could etch his name into Manchester United history as the club's youngest-ever player should he appear in a competitive fixture before October 25, will be eager to earn at least some playing time. For the Wrexham game, Carrick fielded his strongest lineup in the first half before rotating the entire squad for the second 45 minutes. Wheatley was among those introduced at half-time, though not every player saw action—outfielders Jim Thwaites and Chido Obi remained unused.
Any preseason minutes would bolster Gabriel's shot at the record, currently held by the late David Gaskell, a goalkeeper who made his debut in 1956 at 16 years and 19 days old. To put his age in perspective, Gabriel has yet to enter the two-year scholarship program—which bridges academy and senior football—that Kai Rooney was recently accepted into.
Benjamin Sesko Still Absent
Manchester United have yet to welcome back any player who took part in the World Cup knockout rounds, with the exception of Scotland midfielder Tyler Fletcher. The side also lined up in Helsinki, Finland over the weekend without their first-choice striker Benjamin Šeško, and that situation remains unchanged here.
Šeško missed the tail end of 2025–26 through injury and has spent the early part of preseason working on his fitness at the club's Carrington training facility. There is currently no concern about his availability when the new campaign officially kicks off against Hull City on August 22.
Centre-back Matthijs de Ligt finds himself in a comparable position, still recovering from back surgery in May after missing a significant portion of last season. The Dutchman is on track to return to action in the near future.
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The timing of each United player's World Cup elimination will determine exactly when they are due back at the club. Regulations require that players receive a minimum three-week rest and recovery period.
For Amad Diallo, whose Côte d'Ivoire side were eliminated in the round of 32 on June 30, a return should be just around the corner. Others will trickle back gradually, with Matheus Cunha's Brazil bowing out on July 5 and Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot representing Portugal until July 6. The last to return will be Kobbie Mainoo and Marcus Rashford, who were part of the England squad until the final weekend of the tournament.