- Two stars nominated for player of the season
- When will we see them make their debut?
- FA Youth Cup drama
Manchester United academy stars JJ Gabriel and Albert Mills have both received major recognition, with the pair nominated for the U18 Premier League Player of the Season award.
The two have excelled at opposite ends of the pitch—Gabriel in attack, Mills in defence—with the winner set to be announced on May 12 at the Premier League Youth Development Conference.
Gabriel’s nomination alone already stands out for a player experiencing his first full season of U18 football, but when you narrow the lens further and remember he is still only 15 years old, it becomes even more remarkable.
Full list of nominations
- Mathis Eboue (Chelsea)
- Chizaram Ezewata (Chelsea)
- JJ Gabriel (Manchester United)
- Albert Mills (Manchester United)
- Teddie Lamb (Man City)
- Joe Roberts (Middlesbrough)
- Joshua Sonni-Lambie (Liverpool)
- Tyler Tingey (Tottenham)
Both players look destined for bright futures at the club, and it now feels increasingly likely that United fans will not only see them during the club’s pre-season tour of Europe but also around the first team next season.
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Man Utd U18’s Impressive Campaign
At one stage this season, United sat just a handful of matches away from completing an unprecedented domestic treble. The campaign could somehow end without a single trophy.
The U18 Premier League Cup final, however, left a bitter taste, with Crystal Palace F.C. fighting back from 1-0 down before receiving a penalty—which never should have been awarded—in the dying moments to level the scoreline.
The Eagles would eventually prevail on penalties.
Regardless of trophies or silverware, however, two nominations for Player of the Season underline the work Darren Fletcher and his coaching staff continue to do behind the scenes, constantly pushing their young stars towards the highest level possible.
And whilst United could still finish the season empty-handed—they face Manchester City in the prestigious FA Youth Cup final on 14 May—the squad possesses an exceptionally strong core, with the likes of Jim Thwaites, Godwill Kukonki, Bendito Mantato, and several others already hovering on the edge of first-team football.
Gabriel himself, however, may just stand above the rest—not only at United, but across the country.
Drawing comparisons with Max Dowman at Arsenal F.C., the electric winger has dazzled throughout the campaign and already feels like a household name amongst the United fanbase.
Gabriel has scored 22 goals in 22 league matches, with only Teddie Lamb, also nominated for the award, coming close with 21.
Across all competitions, he has produced 25 goals and four assists in just 27 appearances.
Mills, meanwhile, may only carry one assist in league competition—adding a goal in the youth cup as well—but the defender has missed just 360 minutes of U18 Premier League football all season, whilst helping the side keep nine clean sheets.
FA Youth Cup drama
What should have stood as the crowning achievement for both Manchester United and Manchester City’s U18 sides has instead descended into farce, with the FA Youth Cup final moved from the Etihad Stadium to the Joie Stadium.
From 53,400 seats down to just 7,000. Back in 2022, when United last reached the final, Old Trafford almost hit full capacity as 67,492 supporters packed into the stands to watch the next generation announce themselves.
This time, City decided against hosting the fixture at the Etihad due to construction work surrounding their final three Premier League home matches.
Of course, nobody could possibly suggest City shrank the venue because they knew United supporters would outnumber them two-to-one.
