Shea Lacey is on the brink of making his senior Manchester United debut after being included in back-to-back matchday squads.
When Manchester United were losing 1-0 to Everton, Ruben Amorim was criticised for overlooking Shea Lacey as an option off the bench.
A few days later, Shea Lacey was again an unused substitute for the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
Everything you need to know about Shea Lacey!
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Amorim insists Lacey is ready, so it is only a matter of time until he becomes United’s 255th academy graduate.
With a hectic Premier League winter fixture list on the horizon, Lacey’s debut could come in the next few weeks. In the meantime, he is making huge progress in training.
Shea Lacey during Manchester United Training Session.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Travis Binnion speaks about Shea Lacey in training
United’s head of player development Travis Binnion sat and spoke to MUTV about Lacey, and he emphasised the importance of being involved in first-team training.
“Training with first team is massive,” Binnion said.
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“Shea is going through a period now where that is more important than games. The previous month, the games were important to get that body of matches and build his confidence.”
Amorim has called up Lacey to first-team training regularly this season, integrating the 18-year-old with the senior squad.
While that has limited the number of academy games Lacey has been available for, clearly Binnion believes he is making more progress under Amorim’s tutelage at Carrington.
AFCON is golden opportunity for Shea Lacey to step up
Lacey has been making impressive strides this season and he is now picking up invaluable experience travelling with the senior squad.
It is only a matter of time until he makes his debut, and the imminent departure of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo to AFCON is well-timed for Lacey.
Who will be Manchester United’s most important attacking player when Mbeumo and Amad depart for the AFCON?
Bryan Mbeumo celebrates scoring for Manchester United vs Liverpool.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Lacey is a talented right winger, meaning he is best-suited to the right-sided No.10 in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation.
READ MORE: Matheus Cunha injury update means special Man Utd wonderkid will have to break first-team door again
His two biggest competitors for a starting spot are both heading away on international duty on December 15th, and may not return until mid-January.
United have a busy stretch of Premier League games in that time, so Lacey should feel confident about being given an opportunity in the next month.
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