Can JJ Gabriel play for Man Utd now? Red card appeal after starlet hit with suspension

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Manchester United have received encouraging news regarding JJ Gabriel's eligibility in the FA Youth Cup following a red card. The Premier League outfit will still need to be patient before they can award the teenage sensation a senior debut, though, despite his impressive rise through the ranks.

Gabriel, 15, has featured from the start in both of United's Youth Cup fixtures despite his young age. A dismissal in the Premier League Cup had raised questions about his participation in the forthcoming fifth-round tie, but this has now been rescinded.

"Cleared. Red card overturned," the teenager confirmed on an Instagram story, accompanied by a tick emoji. Darren Fletcher's Under-18s are scheduled to face Oxford United in the fifth round, and Gabriel will be available to feature after United's appeal against the ban was successful.

Gabriel won't be able to follow those minutes with a first-team debut , though - at least not this season. This comes despite training alongside the senior squad under Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick .

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Gabriel's ability has resulted in him being brought into United's Under-18 side despite only turning 15 in October. He delivered five goals in the opening three league fixtures of the campaign and has 11 from 15 outings in this season's Under-18 Premier League.

The England Under-16 international also netted the decisive goal against Peterborough in the third round of the FA Youth Cup. The fixture took place at Old Trafford, offering youngsters like him a first ever opportunity to experience what it's like to perform in front of a home crowd at the Theatre of Dreams.

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United's youngsters returned to Old Trafford for the fourth round, with Derby County providing the opposition. The tie required extra time, with strikes from Luca Crolla and Chido Obi securing Fletcher's team a 2-1 victory after 120 minutes.

Gabriel's sending-off occurred during a Premier League Cup triumph over West Brom . He contributed two assists in the 4-3 success but received his marching orders for an off-the-ball incident.

"How can this be a yellow let alone a red, how?" he posted on social media alongside footage of the incident. Thankfully for both player and club, his appeal proved successful.

Had the suspension stood, he would have also been unavailable for a Manchester derby on Saturday. Instead, he was named in the starting line-up against Manchester City and broke the deadlock in a 3-1 triumph, with Obi and Jim Thwaites also finding the net.

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Premier League regulations stipulate that a player must have turned 15 before August 31 if they wish to appear in a competitive league fixture that season. Gabriel, who marked his birthday in October, falls short by a matter of weeks and will have to wait until next season.

Only a single 15-year-old has graced the Premier League this season, with Arsenal 's young prodigy Max Dowman making his debut in the competition in August and accumulating additional appearances in the league, Carabao Cup and Champions League . He is one of only three players in Premier League history to accumulate minutes before reaching 16, joining Arsenal team-mate Ethan Nwaneri and Leicester prodigy Jeremy Monga.

While Gabriel can't feature until next season, team-mate Kai Rooney is eligible to play this term if needed. The forward, son of former United legend Wayne, turned 16 in November but has had his playing time restricted this season as he gradually regains full fitness following an injury.

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