Manchester United secured a 5-0 victory against Rosenborg in a pre-season friendly held in Trondheim, Norway. The match saw several young talents from United‘s academy making an impact, with goals from Shea Lacey, Jacob Devaney, and Harry Amass. Despite the dominant performance, highly-rated prospect JJ Gabriel, aged 15, remained on the bench throughout the game.
Michael Carrick, Manchester United‘s manager, opted not to give Gabriel any pitch time, a decision that also applied to FA Youth Cup final teammate Jim Thwaites. Gabriel‘s presence in the 25-man travelling squad had led to speculation that he might become one of the youngest players to feature in a senior game for the club. He was a focal point during the team’s arrival and a subsequent meet-and-greet session with supporters, who were keen to see the young talent.
Academy talents shine in Norway
While Gabriel awaited his senior debut, Shea Lacey, Jacob Devaney, and Harry Amass, all aged 19, seized their opportunities. All three found the back of the net, making a strong case for their inclusion in Carrick‘s plans for the coming months. Lacey, in particular, has been identified by United staff, alongside midfielder Tyler Fletcher, as a young player with high potential to regularly join the first-team squad.
Lacey‘s journey to this point has involved overcoming a torn thigh muscle that kept him out for five months during the 2023-24 season. He had to be carefully managed to ensure his body could handle a consistent run of games. His goal against Rosenborg was notable, as he drifted in from the right, having largely played in a hybrid number 10 role, and curled a shot into the far corner with apparent class.
Devaney, who received praise from Carrick after a previous defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki, continued to impress in central defence, a position he played despite his preferred role in midfield. He demonstrated an assured presence and scored with a first-time finish following a corner. Amass, who has noticeably developed physically over the past two years, also scored United‘s fourth goal by sliding in at the far post. His performance served as a reminder to Carrick of his potential as a backup option to Luke Shaw, especially after a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday and an injury sustained after joining Norwich.
The match also featured a superb solo effort from Joshua Zirkzee and a goal from Ethan Williams, who completed the rout. Rosenborg‘s manager, Freyr Alexandersson, set up his team in a 4-3-3 formation, while Michael Carrick‘s Manchester United played with a 4-2-3-1 formation.
JJ Gabriel: The ‘Kid Messi’ prospect
JJ Gabriel, born on October 6, 2010, is a highly touted striker who has already made strides in Manchester United‘s youth system. He spent time in the youth setups of Chelsea, Arsenal, and West Ham before moving to the north-west in 2022. At just nine years old in 2019, he gained viral attention on YouTube, earning him the nickname ‘Kid Messi’.
Despite his young age, Gabriel has already made an impact at the academy level. He scored twice on his debut against Leeds and was invited to train with the first-team squad under Ruben Amorim in October of last year. He also scored in the FA Youth Cup against Peterborough at Old Trafford in December and was named the Under-18s’ player of the season at the end of the campaign. He holds eligibility to represent Ireland, Cyprus, and Trinidad and Tobago through his paternal grandmother, Cypriot mother, and Trinidadian grandfather.
The match against Rosenborg was affected by local scheduling, as an important league game for the Norwegian team was moved to Monday to accommodate the friendly. This change reportedly led to dissatisfaction among Rosenborg supporters and may have contributed to the noticeable number of empty seats at the 21,000-capacity Lerkendal Stadium.
Source: bbc.com
