Gabriel cannot play for either the senior squad or U21s due to being 14 at the start the start of the season,
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Carrick said: “He is not allowed (to be part of a first-team squad). He’s too young.
“JJ’s doing really well. We’ve got some really good players in the academy and we try and get the younger players up (with the main group) as much as we can.
“We’re always trying to give them that exposure.
“JJ is a big talent, it is pretty obvious and he has had a good season for U18s. We think an awful lot of him.
“But patience is important in managing everything that comes with that and developing him and picking the right moment to step up, to leave them in a certain place.
“He’s trained well and it is good to have young players up.”