Manchester United talent JJ Gabriel is making waves at 15 and the club is working hard to provide the right pathway to allow him to fulfil his eye-catching potential. Tipped as a future star for several years, the forward has spent time training with Michael Carrick's men and made his first appearance for the senior team in August's friendly against Atlético Madrid.

Gabriel does not turn 16 until next month and on Thursday sparkled for the Under-19s against Sabah as he marked his UEFA Youth League debut with a hat trick in a 5-0 victory in Leigh. Adam Lawrence, who coached the team in his role as United's professional development phase lead, said: "JJ is surrounded by people that really, really believe in him from the top of the club right the way through."

There is a lot of excitement around Gabriel, who last season became the youngest-ever winner of the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award. The 15-year-old has amassed 840,000 followers on Instagram before so much as making a competitive appearance, with it appearing a matter of when rather than if he makes his bow.

"The first thing is that it's my job is not to ruin him," U21s lead coach Lawrence said with a smile.