JJ Gabriel sends message to Carrick with lethal display in Man Utd U21s 5-0 win

JJ Gabriel again showed his lethal touch with a goal for Manchester United U21s who thumped Ipswich Town 5-0.

Adam Lawrence's side were four goals ahead by half-time after a dominant opening 45 minutes, with Victor Musa, Jack Fletcher, Jaydan Kamason and Dan Armer all finding the net at the Progress With Unity Stadium.

Gabriel helped set up two goals and then added a fifth shortly after the restart, continuing his impressive start to life at U21 level.

The youngster is now pushing on the first team door having been training with them under the watchful eye of Michael Carrick and his display against Ipswich will have only reinforced calls to give him a chance.

United took control from the opening stages and needed only a few minutes to open the scoring.

Gabriel combined with Musa before the 19-year-old received the ball back inside the penalty area and calmly found the bottom corner with his left foot.

Summer signing Tynan Thompson was involved in United's second, cutting in from the left before finding Jack Fletcher in the middle.

The United captain drove through the Ipswich defence before keeping his composure to slot the ball past goalkeeper Woody Williamson.

Thompson and Fletcher both went close to adding another, while Musa also tested Williamson with a powerful effort.

United eventually found a third in the 29th minute.

Musa dropped deeper and picked out Gabriel's run towards the byline. The teenager turned and laid the ball back into the path of Kamason, who smashed his finish into the roof of the net.

United continued to dominate and added a fourth before the interval.

Tyler Fletcher's corner found Armer, who rose to head beyond Williamson and give the Reds a commanding lead at the break.

There was no let-up after half-time, with Gabriel getting his name on the scoresheet just six minutes into the second half.

Jack Fletcher produced another excellent pass from midfield, sending Gabriel through behind the Ipswich defence.

With Williamson racing from his goal, Gabriel showed excellent composure to lift the ball over the goalkeeper and watch it drop into the net.

The goal was another reminder of the teenager's rapid progress after he dominated at U18 level last season. Gabriel is now being tested against players several years older than him at U21 level.

The game became more heated after United's fifth.

Ipswich defender Leon Elliott was shown a second yellow card after a strong challenge involving Gabriel and Harry Amass, leaving the visitors with 10 men for the closing stages.

United continued to look for a sixth, with Tyler Fletcher forcing a save from distance.

Ipswich finally managed to threaten when Shakil Nicolaou broke forward, but Cameron Byrne-Hughes was able to keep out his attempted lob and preserve United's clean sheet.

Thompson came close to adding another in stoppage time after an error in the Ipswich defence, but the visitors recovered.