Details have surfaced of Ruben Amorim’s approach to highly-rated Manchester United wonderkid Shea Lacey, as the player nears a first-team breakthrough.
Lacey causing a buzz at United
Few, if any, players in United’s academy are commanding the same level of fan hype and excitement as Lacey.
Lacey, who hails from Irish roots and represents England at youth level, started playing football when he was just three. His talent was obvious early on, and despite his Scouse background, United managed to bring him into their ranks.
He has enjoyed a meteoric rise at Carrington, which led to him being called up to the Under-18s, making his debut at just 15. After netting his maiden goal for the Under-18s in a 3-3 draw with Wolves, Lacey earned promotion to the Under-21s. He has since cemented his place in the side.
Lacey’s quick feet, technical flair, and brilliant dribbling have set him apart as one of the most exciting young players to watch.
The 18-year-old has often been likened to Manchester City’s Phil Foden. Like Foden, Lacey has a slight frame and can be deployed both in wide positions and in more advanced central areas.
A report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that Lacey is one of the academy players who have captured the attention of Amorim and his coaching staff. Lacey’s efforts to break into the senior team were handed a big boost during the October international break after he was invited to train with the England squad by Thomas Tuchel.
Now, some new insight has been revealed on how Amorim treats Lacey and what exactly the Portuguese coach thinks of the teenager.
Amorim’s view of Lacey
The Daily Mail says, “The first-team boss is said to be very enthused by this version of Lacey, one that Amorim’s staff see as playing with a freedom that previous injuries robbed him of.”
“Amorim treats him like any other first-team player, no kid gloves or special treatment for being an academy player. As other youngsters who broke through such as Harry Amass can attest, this is a clear sign of just how highly Amorim rates you.”
“Lacey and Amorim speak with increasing regularity these days, plenty of one-to-one conversations around the training ground and there is said to be an eagerness to put Lacey in a position to succeed in the very near future.”
The newspaper notes that Harry Maguire has taken Lacey under his wing and has taken notice of how first-team players have been impressed by the youngster.
Phil Jevons, who has worked closely with Lacey since becoming a coach, told the Daily Mail, “He approaches each session with genuine curiosity about how to get better, which is often the difference between good players and elite players.”
“In every session Shea demonstrated that hunger to improve. He wasn’t satisfied with just executing drills – he wanted to understand the ‘why’ behind the work and how it transfers to match situations.”
“That mentality, combined with the coaching he’s getting at United, is exactly what creates top players.”
On current trajectory, it appears Lacey could make his first-team debut this season. It wouldn’t be surprising, with all signs pointing to this outcome.
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
