‘One of United’s best’ – BBC Sport delivers exciting teenager verdict
Shea Lacey has been described as one of Manchester United’s best players of pre-season by BBC Sport after continuing to impress Michael Carrick.
The 19-year-old produced another eye-catching display against Atletico Madrid and is now expected to receive regular first-team opportunities.
Lacey has steadily moved closer to Carrick’s senior plans after making three Premier League substitute appearances last season. He also featured in the FA Cup before finishing the campaign strongly with United’s Under-21 side.
His progress has continued this summer. Lacey scored during the 5-0 win over Rosenborg before causing Atletico significant problems in Stockholm.
That’s now back-to-back top quality displays by Shea Lacey in the No. 10 position for #MUFC this pre-season so far.. 😮💨
I think he’s ready to become the understudy to Bruno Fernandes for this upcoming season, the time has come, especially with Mount excelling in a deeper… pic.twitter.com/rPQdmh8lZm
— United Peoples TV (@unitedpeoplestv) August 2, 2026
BBC Sport chief football news reporter Simon Stone has highlighted Lacey as one of United’s standout performers during pre-season.
Stone singled out his performance against Atletico, when Lacey repeatedly attacked from the right and drove inside onto his stronger left foot. He also won the penalty which Bryan Mbeumo converted during United’s 2-1 victory.
ReadManUtd reported after the game that Carrick was encouraged by the contribution of his younger players. Lacey provided one of the clearest examples against Champions League-level opposition.
The teenager’s route into Carrick’s starting side remains challenging. Bryan Mbeumo and Amad can both operate from the right, while United have significant competition across their attacking positions.
However, BBC Sport expects Lacey to receive plenty of opportunities from the bench. His direct running and ability to move inside from the right give Carrick a different attacking option when games begin to open up.
Pre-season performances do not guarantee a breakthrough once competitive football begins. Lacey has nevertheless done enough to make himself difficult for Carrick to ignore.
James Chettle is a journalism graduate from the University of Liverpool with a strong passion for football and digital sports media. A lifelong Chelsea supporter, James manages dedicated social media pages for fellow Blues fans, giving him a close understanding of supporter culture and the conversations that matter most to audiences. Alongside his Chelsea-focused work, he writes across the Dave.Sport network, covering West Ham United, Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Manchester United. His journalism spans breaking news, transfers, match analysis and the wider stories shaping clubs across the Premier League.
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