Manchester United Pre-Season Squad: JJ Gabriel and Amad Travel for Atletico Test

Manchester United’s pre-season moves up a notch this weekend – and a 15-year-old will be on the plane for the ride.

JJ Gabriel has been named in Michael Carrick’s 23-man squad for Saturday’s friendly against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm, the latest sign of how highly the club rate the young forward. He is again in with a chance of making his senior bow after being unused in last week’s 5-0 win over Rosenborg.

This time, the stage is bigger. Diego Simeone. Atletico Madrid. Strawberry Arena. A different kind of examination.

Carrick has trimmed the group slightly from the larger parties that travelled to Helsinki to face Wrexham and to Trondheim for that emphatic victory in Norway. The opposition, though, represents a clear step up in class, and United’s selection reflects a shift towards sharper preparation rather than broad experimentation.

Two senior faces return to the fold. Altay Bayindir and Amad, back at Carrington at the start of the week after World Cup duty, both make the travelling squad and will look to bank important minutes as the season edges closer. For Belgian pair Senne Lammens and Youri Tielemans, who reported in on Thursday, this fixture comes too early; they stay behind as they build fitness.

Gabriel’s inclusion again underlines his rapid rise. He was one of only two outfield players not to feature against Rosenborg, alongside midfielder Jim Thwaites, who has been an unused substitute in both pre-season outings so far. Thwaites also keeps his place and will hope this is the moment his wait ends.

Others are not so fortunate. Toby Collyer, Dan Gore, Jacob Devaney and Chido Obi all drop out of the squad, early signs of Carrick beginning to narrow his options as the serious business approaches.

United’s 23-man squad to face Atletico Madrid

• Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Mee, Vitek.
• Defenders: Amass, Armer, Dorgu, Heaven, Kamason, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Yoro.
• Midfielders: J. Fletcher, T. Fletcher, Mason Mount, Santos, Jim Thwaites.

A tougher opponent, a tighter squad, and a teenager chasing a first senior appearance – Stockholm will say plenty about who is really pushing to be part of United’s plans when the real season begins.