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 concerning 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 back.
Lacey is impressing the international set-up within the youth ranks, with Futcher very happy 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 effect tonight. He’s had a very good week – you saw the standard when he got here on. Everyone’s been impressed with him.’
Lacey also moved up to coach with Lee Carsley’s Under-21s side during this international break as he continues to make an enormous impression.
Speaking after the draw with Japan, the teenager said: ‘I believed it was a superb game. Japan are a superb team, but we took our probability after we got it and let it slip at the top, but we’re just learning what to take from it.
‘I got a probability just before it [the goal], but I believed I took my probability well once I got here on.
On also working with Carsley, he added: ‘It’s good to hitch him. A few of the players are top players playing in the highest leagues, playing every week. Hopefully you wish to get the call-up permanently and stay around.
‘It’s good to play with recent players and check out to click with them.’
Lacey, together with Manchester City’s Lakyle Samuel and Chelsea’s Harrison Murray-Campbell, had the prospect to coach with Thomas Tuchel’s men ahead of the Wales friendly last month.
‘It’s a superb experience for them,’ said Futcher. ‘It’s where they wish to get to, so that they can feel how difficult it’s and the way good those seniors are. It is nice for them to see it, feel it and be a part of it.’
Lacey can have already progressed further if it weren’t for significant injury setbacks already in his young profession, 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 on the planet knows about Shea Lacey. So he needs somewhat little bit of fortune, he must be patient with himself and everybody else must be really patient with him.
‘Everybody can see – you’ve got to be blind to not 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 might train each day, I believe everyone thinks he might be a top, top player.’
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