Man Utd academy star who endured ultimate low point lands first-team role

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Manchester United's under-21s boss Adam Lawrence says that Shea Lacey is now considered a first-team player as he continues his rise through the ranks.

The 18-year-old made his senior debut under Ruben Amorim in December, and has amassed a total of three appearances for the Red Devils. The last of those was a forgettable experience as Lacey was sent-off in an FA Cup loss to Brighton at Old Trafford.

The teenager was given his marching orders after picking up two bookings. The first was for a foul, before he was shown a second yellow on 89 minutes for furiously throwing the ball. But despite the low point, he remains part of the first-team picture in Manchester.

Lacey has only been named on the first-team bench once since Michael Carrick took over in January, but that has partly been down to his struggles with injury. He has scored eight goals in nine Premier League 2 appearances this season, and has now recovered from a calf issue, with his under-21s boss admitting he's certainly stepped up.

Lawrence said: "Shea is quite a unique case. He's always had an elite technical level. He can do things with the ball which are, without getting too carried away, genuinely first-team level.

"But he's been a later developer physically, so players like that need more time and patience. Day-to-day, Shea will train with the first team and basically follow their programme, and then be topped up with Under-21 games when he needs to be playing."

Carrick has quickly bought academy product Kobbie Mainoo back into the fold - and there is hope that he will continue giving out opportunities whilst he's at the helm. There was frustration regarding Amorim's attitude towards the academy, but Carrick has changed that.

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United's U21s face a heavyweight clash against Real Madrid in the Premier League International Cup on Tuesday and Lawrence has joked that he'll put in some good words with Carrick so that Lacey might be available to him.

"Ah, I'd have to try and sweet-talk Michael," he said. "Shea has had one or two little niggles that have disrupted his rhythm a little bit, but he's definitely someone the club is really excited about.

“But this has been the biggest block that he’s had with the first team, touch wood uninterrupted and he is training at a good level. He’s managing that sensitive transition from the Under-21s into senior football. But for the moment, the first team has him day to day.”