Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Manchester United take on Brighton on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup and it could be Shea Lacey’s big chance to make his mark.
The League Cup offers Michael Carrick a unique opportunity to rotate his Manchester United side and give minutes to deserving youngsters. Shea Lacey is the most deserving of a proper opportunity for United in the fixture.
In the midst of JJ Gabriel trying to leave United, Lacey has made his position clear with a message to show his commitment to the club. He should get his reward against Brighton in what could be a full-circle moment.
Man United Predicted XI
Man United Predicted XI
Shea Lacey will be eager to play vs Brighton
After Lacey made his Champions League debut against Sabah, he could potentially be in line for even more minutes this week in the Carabao Cup against Brighton, which is a competition every Premier League side rotates pretty heavily in.
Therefore, Lacey might be in line to start the game, or at least get a substantial amount of minutes as he looks to get his United career off the mark goal-wise.
It would come at the perfect moment for Lacey, against the same opponent at Old Trafford in a domestic cup, as when he was sent off in January in the FA Cup. The red was incredibly unfortunate, and it meant his breakthrough last season was put on ice slightly.
Lacey would therefore love nothing more than to have a full circle moment against Brighton and get his first goal or assist for the first-team in competitive competition.
While yet to have really gotten substantial opportunities for United this season, Lacey has proven his quality for the U21s, quite clearly well above that level of football. So he should be playing more for the first-team, with Bryan Mbeumo far from impressing, a top display could see him competing to start at the weekend as well.
Lacey should start on the right, this week, more importantly than ever before.
Lacey start would be statement for Manchester United
With Gabriel’s exit demands this week made as he is somehow frustrated with game-time despite being a day from debuting in the cup, which would make him the youngest ever for United.
Due to this narrative, United and Michael Carrick must use Lacey and other academy players in more substantial roles to prove the link between youth and first-team.
Lacey is the standout choice for this faith United. But Noah Ajayi is also deserving of a chance in the wake of Gabriel falling off the list. Carrick can make a point by prioritising the youth and showing Gabriel and his entourage how very wrong they were to kick off at this point.