Manchester United might have lost (again) to ASEAN All-Stars in their first of two post-season tour games but fans finally got to see the most-hyped wonderkid at Carrington.
Shea Lacey was given his senior debut by Ruben Amorim against ASEAN All-Stars, coming off the bench near the half-hour mark and playing 15 minutes.
15 minutes is hardly a big enough sample size to pass judgement on the player with any sort of finality but two things stood out.
Arguably, Amorim would have already known that those things would stand out so Lacey’s debut went as expected. At least United will now know what they have in him.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Shea Lacey debut verdict vs ASEAN All-Stars
Lacey has been exciting the observers of the Man Utd academy ever since he was 14 and making appearances for the U18s side.
Lacey’s injury worries remain a huge concern, and he’s recently returned from a layoff in March, but the talent on the ball is undeniable.
Against ASEAN, it was clear that what everyone expected to happen with Lacey when he gets a senior debut did indeed happen.
His quality on the ball created some chances against the opposition’s stubborn deep block, and his work between the lines made him a standout performer.
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At the same time, his tiny frame and lack of physicality were clear to see, as he was repeatedly brushed off the ball with minimal contact, especially when he received it with his back to the goal.
Much like Amad, Lacey should hope to become deceptively strong, overcoming the hurdle of his slight frame by adding physical intelligence to his game.
That will come with time and senior experience, which is sorely needed so he can work on his physicality. That brings us to the next step.
Shea Lacey should be loaned to an English league side
It is no secret that the loan to Sunderland had a transformative impact on Amad’s career, setting him up for success in English football.
Amad arrived at United with the same physical concerns and breathtaking ability on the ball, but could never earn the trust of his managers in an intense Premier League.
Today, not only is he the first name on the teamsheet at Old Trafford, but he’s become reliable enough to shine at wing-back in Amorim’s system.
Lacey’s defensive game is unlikely to ever be as well-rounded as Amad so a similar move is out of the question, but his path to United’s first-team needs to be via a loan to an English side.
There’s more to playing in the Premier League than bossing on the ball, which he already does, and that skill set is what he’ll learn by playing in an English league side.
At 18 and after overcoming various injuries, it’s time to take off the kid gloves while treating Lacey and see if he can sink or swim in senior football.
He showed enough against ASEAN All-Stars that he won’t sink easily, if at all he does.