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Carrick has a bigger prospect than Shea Lacey in Man Utd’s “10/10 talent”
It was a moving moment amid the misery of Sunday’s defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, with Old Trafford standing to applaud departing Manchester United teenager Shea Lacey following his swift dismissal.
Unleashed for his first appearance on home soil at senior level, it might have all ended in heartbreak for the 18-year-old, although he showed enough before that to warrant a warm farewell from those watching on.
The teenager had already sparked in his previous two outings, not least away at Turf Moor, having again got supporters off their seat against the Seagulls, showcasing all the hallmarks of a United winger in its purest form.
It was telling too, that at a time when the hosts were chasing the game, it was Lacey who his more senior colleagues looked to, having repeatedly been found by Bruno Fernandes down that right flank.
The Scouse sensation has had to wait for his chance, but he looks ready to seize it – hopefully, he’s not the only one with Michael Carrick now on board.
Academy stars who could now feature under Carrick
There had been a growing frustration regarding Ruben Amorim‘s neglect of the youth ranks, having called out the likes of Harry Amass and Chido Obi, while only throwing in Lacey and Jack Fletcher with United left depleted due to a string of absentees.
On the evidence of his Burnley showing, in which he twice went close to winning it for the visitors, Lacey should well have been seen earlier, not least with Amad and Bryan Mbeumo having been on AFCON duty.
The England youth star will now miss the Manchester derby through suspension, although it would be no surprise if he returns as a firm fixture of Carrick’s squad thereafter, with Fletcher – and twin brother Tyler – also no doubt hoping to stick around following the shift to a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1.
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FA Youth Cup Final winners 2022 |
|
|---|---|
|
Where are they now? |
|
|
Player |
Current Team |
|
GK – Radek Vitek |
Bristol City (loan) |
|
RB – Marc Jurado |
Cartagena |
|
CB – Louis Jackson |
Solihull Moors (loan) |
|
CB – Rhys Bennett (C) |
Man Utd |
|
LB – Sam Murray |
Carlisle |
|
CM – Kobbie Mainoo |
Man Utd |
|
CM – Dan Gore |
Rotherham (loan) |
|
RM – Sam Mather |
Kaiserspor |
|
CAM – Isak Hansen |
Bremen |
|
LM – Alejandro Garnacho |
Chelsea |
|
ST – Charlie McNeill |
Sheff Weds |
Speaking of the midfield unit, there remains a desire to see 19-year-old Sekou Kone thrust into action for the first time, even with the Malian currently training with INEOS-owned side Lausanne out in Switzerland.
No decision has yet been made on a potential loan switch, so the 2024 arrival could well still feature under Carrick this season.
Elsewhere, 15-year-old emerging superstar, JJ Gabriel, will have to bide his time with Premier League rules preventing him from securing a promotion, with that arguably a sensible move anyway, considering the need to not expose him to first-team life too soon.
If there is to be anyone who does firmly push his way into Carrick’s team then, alongside Lacey, it could well be that man Obi instead…
Man Utd’s bigger prospect than Lacey could benefit from Carrick hire
Lacey has already got the nod at the age of 18, although Carrington colleague Obi was just 17 when he was parachuted into Amorim’s side last season, amid something of a centre-forward injury crisis.
There were no doubt similarities between the striker’s Old Trafford bow and that of Lacey’s, having come off the bench in the FA Cup clash with Fulham last year, a game that ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat.
Like Lacey, Obi more than took his chance that day, even while failing to get on the scoresheet, having come close to converting from the angle, only to see his effort expertly saved by Bernd Leno.
At a time when fellow Dane Rasmus Hojlund simply couldn’t buy a goal, the teenager was lively, direct and dynamic, also catching the eye away at Goodison Park in the tail-end of that season.
Frustratingly, following his eight first-team appearances in 2024/25, including a first start at Brentford, Obi has not been seen since, even with Benjamin Sesko now the only real recognised centre-forward in the first-team squad.
As already stated, Amorim singled the ex-Arsenal gem out for his struggles this season, having at times not even featured for the U21 side, although such criticism appears to have fuelled him.
Indeed, the former Gunners goal machine – whom scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed a “10/10 talent” – notably scored twice this week at that age group in a 4-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, having scored five times in just nine Premier League 2 games in 2025/26.
Both of those latest efforts were real poacher’s strikes, first pouncing on a rebounded effort to prod home, before adding a second with a composed, dinked finish after finding space for himself inside the area.
With the aforementioned Sesko now back among the goals himself, with three in his last two games, there is no rush to throw Obi into the mix, although he should at least be an option in reserve.
Joshua Zirkzee, a self-described ‘nine-and-a-half’, is not a natural target man, hence the need to have at least one true alternative to Sesko on the bench moving forward.
And so, while Carrick might be without Lacey for the derby, he could well unleash an even bigger prospect instead. What a perfect time it would be for Obi to bag his first senior goal too.
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