Key Highlights
- Ruben Amorim calls up 18-year-old academy star Shea Lacey to first-team squad.
- Lacey was on the bench for Manchester United’s loss against Everton on Monday evening.
- A number of first-team players showed support for Lacey, including Zirkzee, Dalot, and Malacia.
- Amorim is confident in Lacey’s potential but warns he needs more time to adapt to Premier League pressure.
Manchester United Academy Star Shea Lacey Receives Call-Up from First-Team
Ruben Amorim, the Manchester United head coach, has given a young academy star his first taste of Premier League action by including 18-year-old Shea Lacey in the matchday squad for their clash against Everton on Monday evening. This move marks a significant step forward for the talented winger, who has spent all his youth with the club and recently signed his first professional contract.
The decision to include Lacey, despite him yet to make an official debut at the highest level, shows Amorim’s confidence in the player’s potential. Speaking ahead of the game, Amorim expressed optimism: “I’m really happy with him.
He struggled a little bit with injuries but they did a very good job balancing his body and you can sense he can manage more load during training.”
Amorim highlighted that Lacey’s transition to first-team football will not be easy, emphasizing the need for additional preparation: “He has a lot of talent but when they come here they can sense the speed is completely different, so they need to spend more time with us to be prepared because our training is hard. In Premier League games the pressure is harder, so they need to be ready.”
Despite not making an appearance during the match against Everton, Lacey’s supporters are vocal on social media. A number of first-team players, including Joshua Zirkzee, Diogo Dalot, and Tyrell Malacia, showed their support for the academy star by liking his Instagram post after the game.
The post featured a photo carousel from the night under the bright lights at Old Trafford, with Lacey captioning it with a simple love heart emoji.
Zirkzee, along with other academy players like Harry Amass and Ethan Wheatley, shared messages of support in the comments section. This shows the unity within the squad and the encouragement to help Lacey achieve his goals.
Amorim’s Approach to Academy Development
Ruben Amorim’s approach to developing young talent is thorough and meticulous. He has outlined a range of measures aimed at preparing players for life in the Premier League, including bringing in a nutritionist for the academy and providing more individual attention to ensure they are ready when called up.
Amorim stated: “That is something that should be basic. All these things we are doing, so I have more time with them and I’m more confident with them.
When we put these kids in to play in the Premier League, they will struggle, but will struggle less I think.” He emphasized the importance of this connection: “This connection is really important. We are putting everything in place – a nutritionist for the academy starts now – in our club.”
Future Prospects and Immediate Challenges
Lacey could still get his chance to debut for Manchester United this season, particularly with Amorim set to lose several key players due to international duty. Players like Bryan Mbeumo, Amad, and Noussair Mazraoui are among those who will be away for the Africa Cup of Nations next month. This could create openings in upcoming matches that may give Lacey a chance to shine.
Manchester United’s schedule in December is packed with fixtures against Wolves, West Ham, Bournemouth, Aston Villa, and Newcastle United.
These opportunities could come sooner rather than later, providing Lacey the platform he needs to prove himself at the highest level of English football.
The journey for Shea Lacey is just beginning, but his call-up to the first-team squad marks a significant milestone in his career. As Amorim continues to groom and prepare young talent, the future looks bright for players like Lacey as they strive to make their mark at Old Trafford.
