Manchester United supporter Cameron Jerome has returned to his childhood club as an academy coach.

The 40-year-old ex-striker began his professional career at Cardiff in 2004, subsequently enjoying a successful tenure in football.

Jerome played a key role in helping Birmingham secure promotion to the Premier League and also featured for Crystal Palace, Stoke, and Norwich in the top division.

He concluded his playing career in 2024 after a spell with Bolton to focus on his business, which is dedicated to mentoring young athletes.

The striker, who has 10 caps for the England Under-21s, is one of four new staff members tasked with enhancing player development across all age groups at United’s renowned academy, according to Training Ground Guru.

Jerome, who netted 163 goals in over 700 appearances, will take on the role of individual development coach for Adam Lawrence’s Under-21 squad.

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This is a significant step in his coaching career at a club he has supported since childhood.

After Mark Hughes took over from Tony Pulis at Stoke in 2013, he mentioned, “I was a huge Manchester United fan growing up, so I watched the manager a lot.”

Additionally, United has recruited Peter Sturgess as a ‘casual coach’ to introduce more mentors capable of guiding rising stars both on and off the field.

Sturgess, a member of the FA Coaching Hall of Fame, returned from retirement to take on this role, bringing with him decades of expertise.

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Regrettably, this will likely not influence teenage sensation JJ Gabriel, who has verbally agreed to terms with Real Madrid.

The 16-year-old talent, deemed one of Europe’s brightest, has procured a Cypriot passport, simplifying potential post-Brexit transfer processes.

Generally, British players cannot transfer to foreign clubs until they reach 18, but an EU passport circumvents this restriction.

The London native, whose mother hails from Greek-Cypriot heritage, has not returned to the club since submitting a de-registration letter on September 14 due to a disagreement about first-team playtime.

According to SunSport, United is ready to explore legal action if any transfer or registration regulations are infringed.

Gabriel was poised to become the youngest player in club history during September’s 3-2 Carabao Cup loss to Brighton, but he did not participate, and his family is now seeking an exit.

“We must handle this situation with great caution. He’s just a teenager. At 15, it is crucial for us and the club to ensure the well-being and exposure of our younger players in this context,” a source mentioned.

Gabriel has been training with private coaches in Spain, but the lack of competitive games remains a significant issue for his development.

United will receive minimal compensation if he departs, which is far less than what the highly talented playmaker is truly worth.