Wolves 1-4 Manchester United match highlights and review
Ruben Amorim could hand out a Man Utd debut before the end of the calendar year.
The Portuguese head coach has recently been criticised for his perceived reluctance to use homegrown players in the senior set-up, though he would argue the reduced fixture schedule has limited the opportunities to experiment with his squad.
Chido Obi, Harry Amass, Ayden Heaven and Tyler Fredricson have all made their senior debuts under Amorim, while a host of academy stars have been named in first-team squads without ever making it onto the pitch. United have included Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey in recent matchday squads and could hand out a competitive debut before the end of the year due to the impending exits of three senior stars.
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Lacey could make debut next
Shea Lacey has been named on the Manchester United bench for their last four Premier League matches and could be the next academy star to make their first-team debut. The 18-year-old has deputised for the injured Benjamin Sesko on the United bench and is expected to keep that role when Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo depart for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Lacey was an unused substitute once again as United defeated Wolves at Molineux on Monday night and took to social media after the win to celebrate another senior squad involvement. The teenage forward uploaded a series of pictures from Wolverhampton, to which Diogo Dalot simply commented with an egg timer emoji, a suggestion that his debut was getting closer.
Speaking last week, Ruben Amorim reiterated Lacey is ready to make his senior debut for the club. "Try to explain every day how to play, because if you're comfortable and don’t have many doubts when you are playing that will help the kids to play," Amorim said of Lacey.
"Then to work the physicality, to understand when he’s training with us, understand the speed of the pressure, the moments to have the ball and pass the ball is completely different to Under-21s. That is the only way I know how to prepare a kid to play for the club, especially this club. He’ll have the chance, I don’t know when, but he’s ready to play."
Who is Shea Lacey?
Shea Lacey is a teenage attacker who is comfortable playing as either a right winger or an attacking midfielder for Manchester United. Lacey might have been born in Liverpool, but he is a lifelong United fan and is regarded as one of the most talented players in their academy system. He is the younger brother of fellow footballers Paddy and Luis Lacey, while his father was also a product of the Liverpool academy.
After his brother Paddy turned down United in favour of a move to Liverpool, their father decided both Luis and Shea should join United instead due to the better facilities and clearer development pathway. It is a decision that has certainly paid off.
Lacey has been with United since he was four-and-a-half and has always been regarded as an exceptional prospect. He made his debut for United's U18s at the age of just 15 and was selected by Erik ten Hag for a one-to-one meeting during his tenure in charge of the club.
He has also caught the eye of Ruben Amorim, who has been hugely impressed by his impact in first-team training sessions, while he was also recently drafted into training with the senior England side under Thomas Tuchel. As a kid, he idolised both Eden Hazard and Lionel Messi, but in recent years has looked to emulate the success of Man City star Phil Foden. Lacey has represented England throughout the age groups and made his U20 international debut against Switzerland in October 2025.
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