Who is Shea Lacey? Man Utd wonderkid, 18, called up to train with England squad

Lacey could be United’s next big star (Picture: Manchester United via Getty Images)

Manchester United wonderkid Shea Lacey was given the chance to impress Thomas Tuchel in training with the the senior England squad today.

Lacey, 18, is one of the most promising young talents emerging at United having also trained with Ruben Amorim’s first-team back in Manchester.

Operating on the right and through the centre in an attacking midfield role, the teenager joined the senior squad along with fellow youngsters Lakyle Samuel and Harrison Murray-Campbell.

Murray-Campbell is a highly-rated defender at Chelsea with Samuel cutting his teeth at Bromley in League Two on loan from Manchester City.

Players from England’s various youth teams are regularly called into train with the senior group to bolster numbers.

But Lacey will hope this won’t be the last time he trains under the watchful eye of the England manager.

Lacey got some first-team minutes in May (Picture: Manchester United via Getty Images)

Lacey has had to overcome persistent injury problems over the last two years but there is huge excitement over his potential back at Carrington.

Blessed with exceptional close control and dribbling ability, the Merseyside-born youngster has drawn early comparisons with Phil Foden, a product of Manchester City’s academy, and United legend Wayne Rooney.

He signed his first professional contract with United after turning 17 in 2024 and has been part of the England set up since Under-15 level.

He caught the eye of former United boss Erik ten Hag who held private meetings with a number of United youngsters including a then-16-year-old Lacey in the summer of 2023 after his first season in charge.

Talk of a senior debut under the Dutchman went away as injuries struck.

Lacey suffered a torn thigh muscle in October 2023 with United cautiously bringing him back in March last year, having little role to play at the end of the season.

He returned for a brief period at the start of the 2024-25 season, showing the flashes of brilliance that have so many expecting big things of him.

Lacey is highly-regarded as United (Picture: Manchester United via Getty Images)

Further injury problems limited his game time last season and United have understandably been protective in managing his minutes and physical workload. But by the turn of the year, light began to form at the end of the tunnel. Shea’s brother Paddy Lacey, a footballer who has also boxed professionally, tweeted of his brother in February: ‘Been through hell the past 14 months. Watch him fly now’.

Fitness issues he meant had no role to play in United’s run to the FA Youth Cup semi-finals last season but ended the campaign with two goals and two assists in five Under-18 Premier League appearances.

This term, he has hit two goals in four appearances for the Under-21s, recently completing his first full 90 minutes since October 2023 in an EFL Trophy match against Lincoln.

Lacey has already trained with United’s senior side (Picture: Getty Images)

He also trained under Amorim and his staff at Carrington having also been part of the senior squad that flew out to the Far East at the end of last season, managing a bright 14 minutes against AEAN All-Stars.

Lacey returned to the international scene for the first time in two years when he was named in Ben Futcher’s England Under-20 squad earlier this month.

Lacey has been able to make up for some lost time this season and while staff are still carefully managing his workload after his spells out, United Under-21 manager Travis Binnion is confident he has a very bright future.