Man Utd's Lacey, 18, Knocking At First-team Door

Manchester United Under-21 coach Adam Lawrence says nan nine are excited astir teen Shea Lacey's advancement and he is now virtually a full-time personnel of nan first-team squad.

After 4 occasions arsenic an unused substitute, England Under-20 guardant Lacey was fixed his elder front by Ruben Amorim successful nan 2-1 nonaccomplishment astatine Aston Villa successful December.

The 18-year-old besides played successful some matches during Darren Fletcher's short stint arsenic interim boss, catching nan oculus pinch a precocious cameo astatine Burnley earlier being sent disconnected successful nan FA Cup conclusion by Brighton - erstwhile his guidance to conceding a free-kick led to a 2nd be aware and a one-match ban.

Lacey has been connected nan first-team chair conscionable erstwhile since Michael Carrick took complete successful January but, aft six goals successful 3 under-21 games and recovering from a calf issue, he looks group to beryllium successful Lawrence's squad for nan Premier League International Cup quarter-final pinch Real Madrid astatine Old Trafford connected Tuesday.

United's coaching unit judge Lacey's reddish paper - which he publically apologised for - has played a valuable domiciled successful in his development.

"Shea is rather a unsocial case," Lawrence said.

"He's ever had an elite method level. He tin do things pinch nan shot which are, without getting excessively carried away, genuinely first-team level.

"But he's been a later developer physically, truthful players for illustration that request much clip and patience.

"Day-to-day Shea will train pinch nan first squad and fundamentally travel their programme, and past beryllium topped up pinch under-21 games erstwhile he needs to beryllium playing."