Marcus Rashford and JJ Gabriel Man Utd roles clear after squad numbers confirmed
Marcus Rashford and JJ Gabriel are the notable inclusions in Manchester United’s announcement of their squad numbers for the upcoming campaign
JJ Gabriel and Marcus Rashford have been handed official Manchester United squad numbers(Image: (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images))
Manchester United have announced their squad numbers for the season with Marcus Rashford set to wear the No.9 shirt. Michael Carrick has revealed he has made a good impression since returning, but there remains some uncertainty surrounding his future.
Having played for England at the World Cup, Rashford only returned to Carrington last weekend but was able to feature off the bench for United’s final pre-season clash against AC Milan. Rashford wore the No. 9 shirt and though United confirmed they were only temporary, he has been given that squad number.
Other notable decisions include JJ Gabriel being officially handed the No.77, which he wore throughout pre-season while the No.10 has been on his back for academy outings. The 15-year-old is eligible to play in the Premier League this season, but he has not been included in the squad to face Hull City.
JJ Gabriel has been included in Manchester United’s official squad number announcement
Rashford has, however, been named along with Benjamin Sesko but there is no place for Amad due to a training injury. Because of that, Rashford will likely be first in line to replace a wide player during the game with the No.9 on his back.
Rashford had the No.10 before he was frozen out at Old Trafford, with Matheus Cunha now occupying that number. Rashford, who has two years left on his United contract, wore 9 and 14 at Aston Villa and Barcelona, respectively.
Hojlund took on the No. 9 shirt after Anthony Martial’s exit from United in the summer of 2024, but he held it for just one full season.
Rasmus Hojlund was the last No.9 when Marcus Rashford played for Manchester United
Notable figures such as Andy Cole, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Dimitar Berbatov have all sported the No. 9 shirt for United throughout the Premier League era, with Sir Bobby Charlton among the legends to have worn it prior to that period.
Reflecting on Rashford last week, Carrick said: “He’s a very good player, and I think if you’re going to have a career over 10 or 15 years, there’s going to be times when things go in a direction and maybe a different direction. I think there are ups and downs, and that doesn’t judge you as a one-off kind of judgment.
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“It’s what happens over time, and now we’re in a positive place as a group, and Marcus can offer us so much. He has done, and he can do again, so in that respect, it’s quite exciting.”
Carrick continued: “He’s our player. He arrived back with Kobbie [Mainoo], and Lisandro [Martinez] came the day after, and he’s part of the group like anybody else. He came in, he’s trained really well.
“I’ve known him a long time, like I’ve known some of the others a long time, so I don’t treat him any different to anybody else, but it’s been good to have him around the group again this week. So I’m really positive with that.”
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