A Manchester United reporter has identified the “clear frontrunner” and second choice from the club’s academy who are likely to move on to the first team next.
United’s academy has been full of talent for the past 88 years. In fact, this is the longest streak in which a player from the Red Devils’ academy has featured in at least one first-team squad.
Coach Ruben Amorim recently said it was “really important” to continue this winning streak, with Jack Fletcher replacing Koby Mainu as the team’s only academy player for the final game.
There could also be a chance for academy players to represent the first team as AFCON approaches and Brian Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Nosair Mazraoui depart to represent their countries.
Daily Mail’s United correspondent Nathan Salt says he feels Ruben Amorim’s options at the moment are “not that many, to be honest”.
He said Shea Lacey was very close to being included in the squad for the recent game against Sunderland and was the “clear favorite”, with Fletcher – who Amorim is known to be a huge fan of – on the bench against Tottenham – second choice.
Salt feels it is too early to graduate Jadan Camazon and Bendito Mantano to the first team.
There is said to be “huge interest” in Lacey on loan from United, but they are said to have made no offer, pointing out that he is a high-profile first-team player.
Right-winger Lacey has featured in five Premier League 2 games this season, scoring two goals and providing one assist.
In games against top teams in the EFL Trophy, Lacey has one goal and one assist in three games against Barnsley and Notts County.
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Lacey was United’s highest-rated Under-21 player in that game, with a SofaScore of 8.7.
With Mbeumo and Amad set to be sidelined for some time during AFCON and both playing on the right wing, Lacey could very well get his chance.
Primarily a right-winger, he could play in a slightly less advanced role if needed, so he could be in a good position.
Lacey is not the player that former United scout Piotr Sadowski thought could play in the first team, having named Harry Amass, who is currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday.
“In my opinion, Harry Amass is the only player currently capable of breaking into United’s first team after returning from his loan spell,” he said.
Read more: Amorim slams critics of his formation, but warns Manchester United stars are ‘far from perfect’
