Man Utd's talented youngster Shea Lacey spoke after scoring for England U20s during the international break.
Shea Lacey scored for England U20s.(Image: 2025 The FA)
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Manchester United youngster Shea Lacey is targeting a call-up to England's Under-21s.
Lacey scored his first goal for England Under-20s against Japan on Friday night. The youngster has been excellent in United academy fixtures this season and transferred his form to international level.
The 18-year-old has long been highly regarded at United and in the England youth system.
Lacey received his maiden U20 call-up during the October international break. He received the opportunity to train with England's first team, and trained with England U21s this week.
The Three Lions' U21 manager, Lee Carsley, said Lacey was a player who England "rate highly."
Speaking after his goal against Japan, Lacey reflected on the team's performance and said he was now targeting a permanent call-up to the England U21 set-up after playing for the U20s.
"It was good," Lacey told independent journalist Tom Jolley. "I thought it was a good game, Japan are a good team, but we took our chance when we got it. We let it slip at the end, but there are lessons to take.
"You could see they were very technical and they worked hard. I thought we defended well and just let it go at the end.
"It's good to play with new players and try click with them. Everyone is a good player here - it's England - but it's getting everyone playing together and getting used to each other, with it being the first time playing together, but you can see the ability that everyone has."
Lacey added about training with the U21 age group: "It's good to join them. Some of the players are top players playing in top leagues and playing every week, so it was good to join them, but hopefully you want to get the call-up permanently and stay around it."
In the last few years, footage of Lacey playing for United's academy has gone viral on social media and such clips have amassed thousands of views.
Lacey was born in Merseyside and comes from a family of Liverpool fans, but he's a United supporter and grew up idolising multi-Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.
He has predominately played on the right wing, but coaches in the academy like to challenge youngsters in different positions across the attack and Lacey is a versatile player.
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