Shea Lacey scored a brilliant hat-trick for Manchester United U21 on Monday night, while his teammate did something that’s just as impressive.
Manchester United are top of the Premier League 2 again after beating West Brom 5-1 on Monday night, a thumping win in which Shea Lacey starred.
Lacey scored a hat-trick for United in the game, sending a clear and direct message to Michael Carrick that he deserves to be playing for the first team.
This is undeniable, but while Lacey shone bright for United’s U21 side, his teammate also had a memorable performance, which should be considered as good as a striker.
Who will be Michael Carrick’s first Manchester United academy debutant?
Carrick will need Carrington with no January signings…
Jayce Fitzgerald walking out for Manchester United.
Photo by Poppy Townson – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Jack Fletcher has top performance for Manchester United U21s
Lacey gets the plaudits and headlines from the 5-1 win and rightly so, having scored three goals, proving that he is now simply too good to be playing against youth players.
But Jack Fletcher’s performance is also noteworthy.
Jack Fletcher playing against Wolves
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Three goals are a special achievement in a match, but so is providing three assists, which is what Fletcher did in the 5-1 win.
More United News
This sees Fletcher go top of the U21 assist rankings, with his performance a timely reminder of why United rate him so highly after some mediocre first team displays where he was used out of position.
Fletcher assisted two of Lacey’s and also Louie Bradbury’s goal, with his creativity no doubt impressing Adam Lawrence and also Michael Carrick.
After Fletcher struggled for the first-team, he needed a return to the U21s and has now refdiscovered himself.
WHO is Manchester United’s best ever academy graduate?🔥
Manchester United celebrate winning league.
Photo by John Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Michael Carrick should re-try Jack Fletcher’s first-team run
Fletcher made his first-team debut in December, with it being a disappointing few games, but we cannot judge him based on this.
Ruben Amorim completely misprofiled Fletcher and set the teenager up to fail at Old Trafford.
But going forward, he continues to prove that he is at the top of the academy for a reason, and Carrick should not be deterred from giving him another opportunities.
Fletcher should get a chance for United in his natural number 10 position before the end of this season, and Carrick should have him on the bench for games where Bruno Fernandes can be rested.
Fletcher’s first-team run should get a second go under Carrick, we’re sure things will go much better.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox