Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim apparently has big plans for Shea Lacey, who is widely considered among the academy’s most promising youngsters.
The 18-year-old spent the last three seasons with Man Utd’s U18 squad, before earning a promotion to the U21 side last summer. Moreover, Shea has been occasionally training with the first team since the start of the campaign after gaining the attention of the technical staff.
But while several youngsters have joined Amorim’s training sessions this season, Carrington insider Sully reveals why Lacey holds a special place in the Portuguese manager’s plans.
Shea Lacey regularly training with Man United’s first team
In his latest update on CentreDevils, the journalist reveals that the Liverpool native was among eight youngsters who trained with the first team on Thursday, while several senior players were still recovering their strength following their return from international duty, including Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro, and Amad Diallo.
On Friday, the club captain and fellow first-team stars resumed training as usual, so Amorim sent the young players packing… except one.
Lacey was the only youth team player to work with the senior squad as they began their serious preparations for Sunday’s big clash against Liverpool. The source thus describes it as a ‘huge opportunity’ for the 18-year-old.
It will be interesting to see if Lacey will get a call-up for the trip to Anfield Road. This would be a special occasion for him, given that he was born in Liverpool.
Shea Lacey pushing for England call-up?
The teenager has Irish heritage, but has been representing the Three Lions in the age groups. He made his debut for England U20 last week in a contest against Switzerland U20. He also had the opportunity to train with Thomas Tuchel’s first team.
| Lacey’s career stats | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Man Utd U18 | 32 | 7 | 7 |
| Man Utd UEFA U19 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Man Utd U21 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Lacey is a left-footed player who enjoys playing as an inverted right winger, but he can also cope with various other roles in the final third.
In recent years, his momentum was interrupted by injuries, but he has now reestablished himself as one of the most exciting youngsters at Carrington.
Go go Lacey
It is time that Amorim gave some of our youngsters their chance.
Lacey, Fletcher, Thwaites, Kone, and Obi, should be given game time now, and some others also. He is not giving the young players in our under 21s and academy enough notice.
I agree completely, and would add Biancheri and Ibragimov to that list. There are others, too, who should be considered, such as Dan Armer. United have their best crop of young players since 1992, so I hope that they’ll be given a chance.
People complain about the academy players not getting game time, but those who are really talented are really young or have had long periods out with injuries and the like. Plus there is no point in involving them in the confidence sapping losses of the first team.
Lacey is getting closer and closer but needs to build up his playing time and stay fit.
Mainoo can’t get in the team but he hasn’t shown enough on the pitch, scoring incredible goals is not enough, he needs to show a desire to defend and be aggressive out of possession.
How can Mainoo prove his metal when he is continually overlooked. When he has replaced Casimero or Ugarte he has proven to be a better option YET he still does not get the starts he needs. With Amorim all you get is rhetoric about youth, which seems to pacify Ratcliffe and the board. They should go all out to get Postecoglou now he is available, No, honestly just joking.
When has he proven a better option? How so?
Shit joke
Don’t joke 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I genuinely don’t believe Amorim knows what he is doing. Rasmus is scoring , United not so. He already said they didn’t know how to use Casemiro, that’s damning. He’s a smooth talking bluffer … any other manager would be playing rasmus and mainoo and probably a bunch of the kids who can’t be any worse than what’s on the field. I’m thoroughly p’d off with the club owners and manager . Stats are impressive but points and goals are not needed , not stats .
I think Amorim is counting more on experience, than youthful energy, forgetting that the young lads deserve some encouragement to boost their confidence and performance.
Shea Lacey, is so so talented. Wonderful balance and very creative. I liken him to Phil Foden but Lacey has potentially more to his game as he can play on either side left or right or midfield. He is small but I believe he has been doing gym work strengthening and that is important. I just love watching him and hope he breaks through and is given the opportunities needed.
The only weakness Mainoo has seems to be pace and maybe just a mentality problem. He has all the skills but not the best at chasing or tracking back.Maybe I’m being picky but something is missing from his game. Possibly a run of games will improve him or expose him I just don’t know.