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Michael Carrick has been keeping his eye on two Manchester United youngsters ahead of an important weekend of Premier League action. Carrick’s men face Aston Villa at Old Trafford this Sunday in a potentially decisive game in the fight for the top-four this season.

United are currently third in the table while Unai Emery’s Villa are in fourth place, with only goal difference separating the two clubs. Carrick will be well aware that beating a direct rival is crucial to securing Champions League football next season.

The 44-year-old, who was appointed interim manager until the end of this campaign in January, suffered his first defeat, a2-1 away loss to Newcastle, earlier this month. He will hope to get back to winning ways on home turf on Sunday, as Mirror Football takes a look at two of the biggest stories surrounding United in recent days.

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Carrick has explained that United wonderkid JJ Gabriel is not allowed to play for the first-team this season. Gabriel, who turned 15 in October, cannot feature in matchday squads above Under-18 level.

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That’s because he was aged just 14 when the 2025/26 campaign began. Premier League rules only allow a 15-year-old to play as long as they are 15 by August 31 of the season in question.

Carrick said: "He is not allowed [to be part of a first-team squad on a matchday]. 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."

Carrick also described Gabriel as a "big talent" and a future star. He said: "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."

Diego Leon has revealed the advice Carrick has given him after his difficult start to life in Manchester. The 18-year-old left-back signed from Paraguayan side Cerro Porteno last summer but is yet to make his first-team debut for his new club, having made the bench just three times earlier in the campaign.

Leon began by telling Versus Sports: "At the beginning it was a bit difficult, honestly. When I first arrived I didn’t understand any English. My girlfriend and I would go out and people would speak to us, and I felt very uncomfortable because they were talking and we didn’t understand anything."

When asked what advice Carrick had given him, Leon explained: "He told me to stay calm, to try to improve tactically and to attack more often, but when I attack I also have to come back with the same intensity.

"It's pretty clear that I still have a way to go. I lack maturity, the physical aspect, the tactical and technical aspects, but I feel like I'm improving. They tell me to stay calm and that it's quite normal. They tell me that coming from Paraguay makes a huge difference. The Premier League isn't easy.

"The thing that surprised me the most was the intensity. On the first day we did a small-sided game. I went to press a player and before I could even get close, the ball was already behind me again. The speed of play forced him to adapt quickly. It was very fast. I realised straight away how big the difference is."