The 16-year-old, son of former United captain Wayne Rooney, has featured across several age groups this season and is expected to be involved when Darren Fletcher’s Under-18s face Liverpool.
Rooney made his Old Trafford debut in the FA Youth Cup last season, then played in the UEFA Youth League last week before scoring on his first Under-18 Premier League appearance of the campaign. His goal opened the scoring in a 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.
He has also made his Under-21 debut, coming on for Samuel Lusale in a 3-2 defeat against Forest. The run of appearances has coincided with uncertainty surrounding JJ Gabriel, who has not featured since indicating in September that he wanted to leave the club.
Gabriel, 11 months younger than Rooney, had been a prominent attacking prospect and played for the senior side during pre-season. He scored a hat-trick in United’s Youth League opener against Sabah, but was not involved against Atlético Madrid or Como. Rooney was an unused substitute in Italy, where Jack Fletcher scored in a 2-1 defeat.
Manchester United’s attacking options at youth level have also been reduced by departures. Louie Bradbury moved permanently to Stoke City, while Chido Obi joined Willem II on loan and has since made substitute appearances in the Eredivisie. With senior striker Benjamin Sesko injured, United have experimented with different attacking roles across the age groups.
The tactical changes could offer Rooney another route to progress. Under-21 coach Adam Lawrence has reportedly moved towards the 4-2-3-1 system used by Carrick’s first team, an adjustment initially discussed as a possible fit for Gabriel in the number 10 role.
The false nine position is now another option for United to explore, particularly while the club lacks an established centre-forward across its squads. Rooney is understood to remain a possibility in that role, although any first-team opportunity is still some way off.
For now, his immediate focus remains academy football. United’s Under-18s have won four of their first six league matches and could strengthen their title challenge with a victory over Liverpool. Rooney’s recent progress gives him a chance to keep moving through the age groups while Gabriel’s future remains unresolved.