- Man United wonderkid Shea Lacey has been spotted in first-team training for the first time.
- The 16-year-old has recently returned from injury and is highly thought of behind the scenes at Old Trafford.
- United manager Erik ten Hag has shown a willingness to give young United players like Kobbie Mainoo a chance this season.
A fresh face has joined the training ranks of Manchester United’s senior squad as they prepare for their upcoming Premier League clash with AFC Bournemouth. Erik ten Hag, known for his knack in nurturing young talents, seems poised to continue this trend.
Ahead of the weekend fixture, it was noted by BBC’s Alex Turk that 16-year-old winger Shea Lacey has been seen practicing with the senior squad. Lacey, touted as a prodigy by Beth Tucker of the United Stand back in December, has been sidelined with an injury for the past six months but appears primed for a comeback and possibly a swift promotion to the senior team.
Before his injury setback, Lacey made five appearances this season for United’s under-18 team, scoring two goals from midfield and receiving two yellow cards. Last season, he netted three times in 12 outings, with only one booking.
Lacey’s football journey began at the tender age of three, and despite his siblings being Liverpool supporters, he grew up backing United. Identified at a young age, he debuted for the under-18s last season at just 15. Additionally, he has featured in the UEFA Youth League for the under-19s and made his debut for the under-21s in a friendly match against Feyenoord.
Regarding his recent training with the senior squad, Alex Turk of BBC Sport expressed cautious optimism, stating, “A breakthrough this season would surprise me after his lengthy injury, but he’s not miles away. One of the points strongly in Erik ten Hag’s favour. He’s been absolutely brilliant with his management of academy talents.”
Ten Hag emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent, highlighting it as part of the ‘DNA of Manchester United’. While Lacey wasn’t specifically mentioned in his list of exciting talents, his performance during training this week likely caught the attention of the Dutch manager.
“I think it is in the DNA of Manchester United that young players come through,” ten Hag remarked. “I think about the Busby Babes, the Class of ’92, and also we’ve worked hard to get this generation built in an environment that they are really competitive every day, to bring them through and when they get an opportunity to take them.”
He went on to mention several promising young players, including Kobbie Mainoo, Garnacho, Hojlund, Omari Forson, and Amad Diallo, stressing the need to develop their skills and instill a winning mentality within the team.
