"Despite being a Year 10 in school terms and, physically, much smaller than the vast majority of the players he is playing with and against, he still tends to stand out. The victory against Sunderland that earned United an Old Trafford semi-final with Crystal Palace, who they also meet in the Premier League Under-18 Cup final at Selhurst Park next month, wasn't his best performance. But he still produced a couple of magical moments."
"Youth coaches are notoriously reluctant to single out individual players for assessment. They know only too well the pressure they can place on youngsters who have so much growing up and so much development ahead of them. But, just as with Arsenal's Max Dowman - the 16-year-old who last weekend became the Premier League's youngest ever scorer - for Gabriel there is no escaping attention."
JJ Gabriel, who only turned 15 in October, is ineligible for Premier League action this season due to regulations requiring players to be 15 by August 31. Despite being a Year 10 student and physically smaller than most opponents, Gabriel stands out as a special talent. In a 3-2 FA Youth Cup victory over Sunderland, he created crucial moments including a perfectly weighted pass for the winning goal and displayed dazzling two-footed skill. His performances have generated significant fan attention, with supporters seeking selfies after matches. Youth coaches typically avoid singling out individual players, but Gabriel's exceptional ability makes him impossible to overlook, drawing comparisons to Arsenal's Max Dowman.
Read at www.bbc.com
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