Ruben Amorim has identified Manchester United's next young star as he tries to keep a 'rich club' tradition which has been running since October 1937
Ruben Amorim has identified Manchester United's next star
Ruben Amorim has identified Manchester United's next star
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Shea Lacey is one of the leading lights in Manchester United's academy right now, and Ruben Amorim is taking a hands-on approach with the teenager's progression towards the first team.
Lacey, 18, is yet to make his senior debut but has impressed in the Vertu Trophy with the Under 21s this season. Indeed, the 2007-born winger scored in United's 2-0 win at Notts County on Tuesday.
Chido Obi clipped a pass through to Lacey inside the right channel and he took a touch before burying the ball into the back of the net. It was a composed finish from the youngster for his third goal of the campaign.
Following a disrupted 2024/25 season through injury, Lacey is making progress to becoming a first-team player and Amorim is keeping a close eye on his development. According to the Daily Mail, Lacey and Amorim have had numerous one-to-one conversations around the United training ground in recent weeks.
Lacey has had a greater involvement with the first-team group and that has seen a greater focus on mapping out his route to making his senior debut.
United U21s boss Travis Binnion said: "It's important the games programme doesn’t get in the way of his opportunities with the first team.
Shea Lacey dribbling with the ball during a Manchester United under-18s match
Shea Lacey dribbling with the ball during a Manchester United Under 18s match
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"He's had a good few days with the first team (last week). We speak every day with the first team and get a week ahead in terms of what games he’s going to play and what’s right for him.
"I saw Jason at Barnsley and you have conversations with him, (academy head) Stephen Torpey, Ruben and (assistant) Carlos (Fernandes) around who, where, when, what. We are trying to get ahead of it by planning around the games, and you can’t do that without the dialogue that we have."
Lacey's most comfortable position is playing in a right attacking midfielder role, the exact area where Bryan Mbeumo has been utilised this season. But, with the former Brentford man heading off to the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon in December, United aim to give Lacey his first team debut then.
Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are the other United stars jetting to AFCON, which begins on Sunday, December 21. The trio could miss up to six Premier League matches - and one FA Cup tie - in total.
As United do not have too many other options to replace Mbeumo and Amad on the right-hand side, Lacey could be offered the perfect route to impressing on the first team stage.
Plus, if Lacey is handed a chance in the senior set-up, he could help keep a 88-year United record alive. The Reds have maintained an academy graduate in every matchday squad since October 1937.
Yet, in their 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Kobbie Mainoo, who has been linked with a January move away from United, stood as the only academy product within the squad.
Should Mainoo leave United, this remarkable record faces the threat of ending. However, if Lacey - or another player from the academy - is given an opportunity by Amorim, the feat will still continue.