Shea Lacey: Ugarte’s prediction for wonderkid will excite fans | OneFootball

Manchester United’s academy is bursting with talented wonderkids who are desperate to catch Michael Carrick’s eye.

Several of these youngsters will earn the chance to impress the new head coach during pre-season, and one player fans are excited to see more of is Shea Lacey.

The 19-year-old earned his first-team debut under former head coach Ruben Amorim, and went on to make three further cameo appearances off the bench.

He came dangerously close to netting the winner against Burnley with a wicked curler from outside the box, and Carrick gave him 28 minutes in the last game of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Shea Lacey tipped to enjoy breakthrough season

The England Under-20 international has clearly outgrown academy football, and as previously relayed by The Peoples Person, the United coaching staff have high hopes for the left-footed magician.

They feel he has the skillset to make a mark in the first team, and United midfielder Manuel Ugarte seems to agree.

In an interview with the club’s media team, the Uruguayan, who is busy at the World Cup, was asked about which teenage stars he felt were ready to make the step up.

He mentioned Shea Lacey, while revealing how impressed he was with the Liverpool-born attacker‘s bravery both on and off the pitch.

His personality has impressed senior stars

“Shea Lacey is a really good player. He has personality. That’s really important in the squad. Let’s see if he can improve and he can show himself in the squad.

“He did really well [last season] but we know that he can do better and also he can show to everyone how he plays.”

The Uruguay international revealed how it is up to the senior stars to make the dressing room a conducive environment for youngsters to come in and embrace the challenges.

“Of course, most of the players need confidence and need to speak,” he added. “Sometimes, it’s just speaking to everyone.

Shea Lacey has a bright future at United, unlike Ugarte

“So I think that’s the most important thing, that they have the confidence to play and then, after that, they can show on the pitch what they can do.

“Of course, I think it’s really important because you grew up watching these kind of players and, after a few months, you are playing with them. It’s really important to be humble and to understand everything, what the players are doing, as a player, it’s so important to give confidence.”

While Shea Lacey will be keen to make his mark, Manuel Ugarte might not be at the club for much longer.

INEOS are so desperate to get rid of the former Paris Saint-Germain star that they are prepared to take a major hit on his sale in order to get him and his wages off the books.

Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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