The Man United youngster primed to take JJ Gabriel's crown

JJ Gabriel joined him in the corner with a knee slide of his own. Gabriel started the sweeping move, winning the ball close to his own box, but Ajayi found the net after darting into the Crystal Palace area.

Ajayi's first touch allowed him to fashion a pocket of space between four markers, and his finish was the kind only an instinctive goalscorer can produce.

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To get it, it's a simple one-two punch.

Ajayi left the pitch with an injury in the second half, and there were blank faces on United's bench when Palace levelled the score in added time, which sent the game to extra time and penalties, which Palace won.

The Manchester Evening News travelled to Selhurst Park to watch the U18s in action, and the full-time report read: "There are shades of Marcus Rashford when Ajayi plays for United's academy.

"The way he glides on the left and finishes with a low shot is eerily similar to how Rashford played in a United shirt, and that is a huge compliment.

"Ajayi has gone under the radar in the academy this season - and that is about to change. He was forced off with an injury at Selhurst Park, but it spoke volumes that he wanted to continue."

The Under-18s were beaten in another cup final, the FA Youth Cup final, before the end of the season, but it was still a memorable campaign for Gabriel, who was named the Player of the Season for that age group.

Although Ajayi didn't pick up any individual awards, he was the unsung hero of the campaign, having scored in the Premier League Cup final at Selhurst, and netting an important goal against Sunderland in the Youth Cup quarter-finals when the game was nervy.

Naturally, all the talk was about Gabriel after U18 fixtures last season. He was prolific in front of goal, which generated headlines, but Ajayi wasn't too far behind him, building a consistent body of work.

Nine goals and one assist in 25 academy appearances represented a great return for Ajayi, and his goal against Sunderland at Old Trafford - when he picked up the ball close to the halfway line, burst forward and finished from distance - confirmed that he was a prospect to be excited about.

United tied Ajayi down to a professional contract last week, and academy sources have said they were "delighted" to secure his future.

Coaches have huge belief that Ajayi is a gem. He is viewed as a prospect for the first-team, not in the near future, but eventually down the line as he follows the development plan laid out for him.

The 6ft 2in forward has the frame to become a Premier League player. Rightly or wrongly, in England some young players do not progress because of their stature, but Ajayi has the frame to eventually compete in the men's game.

His acceleration and pace are huge assets. The ball sticks to his boot when he runs, and his finishing is another strength. He has all the tools that a modern forward needs, which is why coaches are so excited about his potential.

Ajayi got the 'full works' from club media on his contract-signing day, with the club releasing images of him signing his pro deal, holding his shirt at Old Trafford, a portrait, and a short video with highlights from the occasion.

Some fans speculated that the more theatrical announcement showed the regard in which Ajayi is held. The truth is, United made more of a deal out of all their academy announcements last week to create a more memorable day for their young players, but Ajayi is highly regarded.

He is seen internally as part of the Under-21 squad this season, but coaches will decide on a week-by-week basis where the best challenge is for him on any given week, as they do with all players.

That means Ajayi will play down with the U18s, or miss a game to train with the first-team, if coaches feel that's the most beneficial option.

Followers of the academy were disappointed to see Ajayi miss the first few games of the season due to a minor injury, but he was back in action against Sabah in the UEFA Youth League in mid-September, playing 23 minutes from the bench.

Gabriel scored a hat-trick in that game before wiping his social media and requesting to leave. Two days later, as the U18s played Newcastle, who came into the clash as the league leaders, Ajayi scored during a superb cameo.

The 17-year-old impressively weaved his way through the Newcastle defence before chipping the ball over the goalkeeper into the bottom corner, which was a reminder of what he is capable of.

United eased Ajayi back into action before the international break, but he will be ready to start games when domestic football resumes. And if Gabriel is to leave the club, then Ajayi looks primed to step up in his absence.

His skillset is not the only reason he has a unique profile, though. He has German heritage and speaks German and English fluently, having joined United's academy aged 10 and settled into Manchester life.

The youngster has attended Manchester Grammar School, a private school conveniently just half an hour's drive from Carrington. Some of United's finest academy graduates were students at Ashton on Mersey down the years, but many now attend Manchester Grammar.

Sources who are familiar with Ajayi have described him as a "studious lad", someone who has taken pride in his studies. His family have stressed the importance of getting an education, despite him progressing as a footballer, and he has buckled down in school to get "good grades."

Ajayi is a quietly confident person with a lot of self-belief, and he impressed academy staff by helping communicate with locals during a trip to Adidas HQ in Bavaria. "He was brilliant," the source said of Ajayi during that visit.

It has not all been plain sailing for Ajayi along the way, with some growing pains stunting his progress, but his excellent performances earned him a professional contract and have put him on Michael Carrick's radar.

Ajayi first took part in senior training when Ruben Amorim was in charge, but opportunities to join first-team sessions have become more regular under Carrick, who has seen what the youngster can do first-hand.

Carrick made a 300-mile round trip to Oxford to watch the U18s in the Youth Cup last season when Ajayi scored from the bench within minutes, and was there again when he scored against Sunderland at Old Trafford.

Darren Fletcher has also loved what he has seen from Ajayi, a point highlighted when he name-dropped him during an interview with the MEN earlier this year.

There is good reason for the excitement building around Ajayi's potential. He could be the next cab off the rank at United.