JJ Gabriel scored twice on his debut for Manchester United 's Under-18s against Leeds on Saturday. The Manchester Evening News reported, on Friday evening, that Gabriel was set to make his first appearance for the Under-18s and he was introduced from the subs bench in the 63rd minute. The 14-year-old became the youngest player to play for United's U18s , which indicates his high potential - and he scored twice in the final minutes of the game. Gabriel took the ball down brilliantly for his second goal, and he finished into the bottom right corner in style. His ball control is exceptional and he's been in prolific goal-scoring form for the Under-16s so far this season, so it was no surprise to see him net a brace on his bow for the U18s. Gabriel is seen as a young talent with genuine star quality. The exciting youngster was given the nickname 'Kid Messi' after clips of him training and completing specialist skills went viral on social media when he was younger, and he's already on the radar of top European sides. He was pictured with one of his idols, Lamine Yamal, outside the Camp Nou in August, and he has a European passport, which has caught the attention of big clubs on the continent. United are hopeful they can do enough to convince Gabriel that staying in Manchester is the best option for him, and making an U18s debut represents another milestone in his blossoming career. When Marcus Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan in January, Gabriel thanked him for taking penalties with him at Carrington before he had left the club. Gabriel also received a "get well soon" video from goalkeeper Andre Onana when he was recovering from his shoulder injury in October. Gabriel may well be one of the most exciting players to ever come through United's academy, but club staff are trying to temper expectations to allow the youngster to focus on his development. The U18s crashed out of the FA Youth Cup semi-final against Aston Villa earlier in the week and Gabriel travelled with the squad, just like he did for the quarter-final match against Arsenal last month. Here at The Manchester Evening News , we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis. Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories. And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast, featuring The Samuel Luckhurst Show and The Midweek Debate. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts , and you can also watch along on YouTube .