JJ Gabriel hits stunning hat-trick aged 15 for Man Utd in UEFA Youth League

Manchester United talent JJ Gabriel marked his UEFA Youth League debut with a hat-trick against Sabah aged just 15.

The attacker is tipped as a future star and made his first appearance for the first team off the bench in last month’s friendly against Atletico Madrid.

Gabriel has yet to make Michael Carrick’s squad for a competitive match but the teenager, who turns 16 next month, continues to knock on the door.

He sparkled for the Under-19s in Thursday’s 5-0 win against Sabah in the Youth League in front of director of football Jason Wilcox, director of recruitment Christopher Vivell and first-team coach Travis Binnion.

Amir Ibragimov and Jacob Watson scored early goals in Leigh, where Gabriel added another in a dominant first half.

Gabriel scored two more late in the second half to claim the match ball against the Azerbaijani visitors, who did not manage a shot on a day that United mustered 44 attempts.

And later United's senior team made a long-awaited return to the Champions League by cruising to a comprehensive 4-0 victory against Sabah.

The Red Devils’ 300th match at Europe’s top table was their first on this stage for 1,003 days and felt more like a Europa League match given it was on a Thursday night and against the champions of Azerbaijan.

Far tougher tests await in the league phase but United were able to enjoy a straightforward evening after a topsy-turvy start to the season, with Matheus Cunha putting them ahead midway through the first half at Old Trafford.

Joy-Lance Mickels wasted a glorious chance to equalise for Sabah, who this week celebrated their ninth birthday, and the hosts duly punished them as Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko struck before the break.

Lisandro Martinez added gloss as Carrick rung the changes with half an eye on Sunday’s return to Premier League action against rivals Manchester City, who will have had two extra days to prepare for the derby.