Manchester United youngster Shea Lacey could be called upon over the next month, with Ruben Amorim looking to manage his squad with AFCON resulting in players leaving for international duty.
Shea Lacey looking for the ball.
Manchester United youngster Shea Lacey could feature against Everton. (Image: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Manchester United are expected to include academy starlet Shea Lacey in their matchday squad to play Everton on Monday night, according to reports.
Ruben Amorim is thought to want to integrate the player before Amad and Bryan Mbeumo head away on AFCON duty - with tonight's clash seen as an ideal opportunity to start that process.
The 18-year-old has been tipped for big things at United, having been on the radar of some fans for the past three years, with impressive performances for the academy catching the eye.
Lacey has featured plenty for the under-18s since the 2022/2023 season, though this campaign has seen him take the step up to join the Under-21s, helping their efforts in the Premier League 2.
The youngster has largely played as a right winger, with his stronger left foot allowing him to cut inside and cause plenty of problems for opponents, something which could suit playing one of the 'two 10' roles in Amorim's system, though he is also comfortable playing on the left-hand side or as an attacking midfielder.
With three goals and two assists for the Under-21s so far this season, there is some hope that Lacey can continue to take steps towards being a regular part of the senior squad.
Manchester United prospect Shea Lacey in action on his England U20s debut.
Manchester United prospect Shea Lacey in action on his England U20s debut.
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That opportunity to make an impression appears to be sooner rather than later, as a report from MUFC Academy on social media claims the United academy prospect will be included in the squad vs Everton. If Amorim does integrate him, at this stage, then it'll be the first matchday squad the youngster has made for the senior side, as he looks to continue working his way to the top.
With AFCON also starting in late December, there is less than a month for the head coach to consider his options to replace some key stars, such as Amad and Mbeumo. While there was some suggestion that January's transfer window could help bolster those areas, the manager has already made it clear that he would rely on the academy to help instead.
"It is a concern, but we already knew [about that]," Amorim said about the players he will be missing. "There is an opportunity for other players. We have also the under-21s.
"We need to send a message in that time so we will see. Of course, it is not ideal because they are so important in our team and we don't have a long squad but, again, our academy is for these moments and so they will be ready."
While it's unclear just how much of an impact Lacey could make over that period without those important players, his raw talent has certainly come in for some praise.
Lee Carsley, who manages the England Under-21s, has been keeping a keen eye on the United youngster, who has featured for England Under-20s so far.
The head coach gave plenty of praise to the forward when he told The Daily Mail: "He has been in the pathway a good amount of time now, and he's a player that we rate highly. It worked out well that we needed that position for the training we were doing, and Shea was more than happy to come over and train with the Under-21s.
"You can see he's a good talent. I know he's struggled with injuries in the past, which has probably held back his development - but I think it's so important we don't rush these young players, we let them develop in their own time. He trained two sessions with us and I enjoyed having him."