Inside Gabriel performance as he hits the target in Man Utd derby win

JJ Gabriel, Chido Obi and Jim Thwaites got the goals as Manchester United again came out on top in a derby - this time with the U18s.

With the first team's stunning win over City still fresh in the memory, this time it was the moment for the youngsters to show supremacy in the U18 Premier League.

It wasn't all one way traffic and the Reds had to work hard for the three points.

Obi was unlucky to hit the post twice inside the opening 45 minutes at the City Football Academy before United did go ahead.

Gabriel opened the scoring with a well-taken finish midway through the second half, before Obi doubled the advantage with a brilliant effort soon after.

Tyrone Samba pulled a goal back for the hosts inside the final five minutes, but Jim Thwaites rifled in a free-kick to make sure of another league success for United.

Gabriel continues to receive admiring glances from the first team coaches but due to his age he won't be able to figure for them this season.

The 15-year-old can't yet make his first-team debut due to Premier League regulations requiring players to have turned 15 by the beginning of the 2025/26 season to qualify.

But United believe the talented academy youngster can become a major star in the future and they are also wary of other clubs who may try and steal the youngster from them - with rumours that Barcelona have been watching him.

Michael Carrick has already invited him to first-team training sessions and Ruben Amorim had similarly done so during his spell in charge.

United's youngsters narrowed the deficit to just one point behind league leaders City thanks to the win, although their rivals have three games in hand after competing in the Youth League across Europe.