Youth Sensation Gabriel Channels Premier League Star in Merseyside Demolition
A remarkable performance from Manchester United's youth academy saw 15-year-old JJ Gabriel net a stunning hat-trick while mimicking Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak's trademark celebration during a 7-0 demolition of Liverpool's under-18s on Saturday afternoon.
Gabriel's Masterclass and Isak Tribute
The teenage sensation delivered a performance beyond his years, striking three times as United's youth team demolished their Merseyside rivals away from home. His standout moment came via a mesmerising solo run down the right flank, where he weaved past several Liverpool defenders before rifling the ball into the net.
After completing his hat-trick, Gabriel wheeled away in celebration, pointing back over his shoulder in an exact replica of Alexander Isak's signature move. The Swedish striker hasn't used that particular celebration recently, but it became notable when he produced it after outjumping Virgil van Dijk to score in Newcastle's Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool.
Gabriel had certainly earned the right to mock his opponents after completing his treble, taking his tally to 10 goals this season and helping Darren Fletcher's squad climb to third place following that emphatic win, which ended a disappointing run of five matches without victory.
First-Team Recognition and Future Prospects
Despite Gabriel's tender age of just 15, United manager Ruben Amorim is well aware of the youngster's talents, having witnessed them first hand during senior training sessions last month.
Amorim said: "Like everyone, I know he is a really talented guy. We try to pick players for training that have talent, not just for me to see for tomorrow, but for them to feel what it means to be in the first team, the difficulties playing against our defenders, the difficulty and pace of our training."
"If we can use every training we have to show the kids what they need to do to be here, it is important, not just for JJ but for everyone."
Gabriel could soon find himself in senior matchday squads given his exceptional talent, though United are likely to be cautious with his development. If he was just a few years older, it is very possible a first-team debut would have arrived already.
The timing could work in Gabriel's favour with several first-team attackers facing absences. Both Amad and Bryan Mbeumo will soon be heading to AFCON while Benjamin Sesko is out injured for the next few weeks. Matheus Cunha also missed Monday's defeat to Everton after suffering an issue in training, but he is expected back for next week's clash against West Ham at Old Trafford.
As a result of those enforced absences, forgotten star Joshua Zirkzee started and played the full game against Everton while Shea Lacey was also on the bench. The latter is another highly-rated youngster from the academy who has contributed to five goals from eight appearances for the under-21s across Premier League 2 and the EFL Trophy.
Amorim also commented on Lacey's progress: "I'm really happy with him. He struggled a little bit with injuries but they did a very good job balancing his body and you can sense he can manage more load during training."
"He has a lot of talent but when they come here they can sense the speed is completely different, so they need to spend more time with us to be prepared because our training is hard."
The comprehensive 7-0 victory not only showcased Gabriel's individual brilliance but also demonstrated the strength of Manchester United's youth system, suggesting a bright future for the club's attacking options as they continue to develop exceptional young talent.
