England Under-20s manager Ben Futcher has hailed ‘top player’ Shea Lacey after the Manchester United prospect scored in a 1-1 draw with Japan on Friday.
The 18-year-old is yet to make his Red Devils debut but fans are getting very excited about the Liverpool born talent.
The teenager, who plays on the wing or in a no.10 position, trained with the senior England side last month, getting a taste of what he hopes is to come.
Lacey is impressing the international set-up in the youth ranks, with Futcher very pleased with what he saw from him in Doncaster on Friday night.
‘Shea’s a top player,’ said Futcher. ‘It’s been great to work with him.
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‘We thought he could have an impact tonight. He’s had a really good week – you saw the quality when he came on. Everyone’s been impressed with him.’
Lacey also moved up to train with Lee Carsley’s Under-21s side during this international break as he continues to make a big impression.
Speaking after the draw with Japan, the teenager said: ‘I thought it was a good game. Japan are a good team, but we took our chance when we got it and let it slip at the end, but we’re just learning what to take from it.
‘I got a chance just before it [the goal], but I thought I took my chance well when I came on.
On also working with Carsley, he added: ‘It’s good to join him. Some of the players are top players playing in the top leagues, playing every week. Hopefully you want to get the call-up permanently and stay around.
‘It’s good to play with new players and try to click with them.’
Lacey, along with Manchester City’s Lakyle Samuel and Chelsea’s Harrison Murray-Campbell, had the chance to train with Thomas Tuchel’s men ahead of the Wales friendly last month.
‘It’s a good experience for them,’ said Futcher. ‘It is where they want to get to, so they can feel how difficult it is and how good those seniors are. It is good for them to see it, feel it and be part of it.’
Lacey may have already progressed further if it were not for significant injury setbacks already in his young career, but he appears to be over them and now on an exciting path.
Travis Binnion, Manchester United Under-21 manager, told the Manchester Evening News: ‘Listen, everybody in the world knows about Shea Lacey. So he needs a little bit of fortune, he needs to be patient with himself and everybody else needs to be really patient with him.
‘Everybody can see – you have to be blind not to see – the talent he’s got. He’s got lots to do in his game and he knows.
‘We’re still managing him physically because if he can stay on the pitch and can train every day, I think everyone thinks he could be a top, top player.’