Manchester United are set to turn to academy youngsters Shea Lacey and Jack Fletcher to solve their impending AFCON crisis.
Manchester United Turn To Shea Lacey and Jack Fletcher Amid AFCON Crisis
Ruben Amorim is set to turn to the Manchester United academy, with the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Noussair Mazraoui due to depart for AFCON in the coming weeks.
Reports suggest that youngsters Shea Lacey and Jack Fletcher will be included in the Red Devils’ matchday squad for Monday night’s Premier League clash against Everton at Old Trafford.
The pair, both 18-years-old, have trained with the first team on several occasions already this term, with Amorim looking to integrate them ahead of the club’s impending AFCON crisis.
Fletcher has already been named on the bench in the English top-flight once this term, away at Tottenham earlier this month, while Lacey is set for his first involvement in a competitive squad.
Standouts for the U21s, neither are expected to feature against the Toffees, but with players soon linking up with their respective national teams, opportunities are set to arise for the duo.
Mbeumo and co are set to miss eight Manchester United games due to AFCON.
This opens the door for Lacey, a left-footed winger, and Fletcher, a left-footed central midfielder, to break into the squad to pick up some valuable minutes at the start of their senior careers.
Lacey has totalled three goals and two assists in nine appearances across all competitions for United’s youth sides this term. He also scored for England U20 against Japan earlier this month.
Fletcher, son of ex-United midfielder Darren Fletcher, has three goals and one assist, and like Lacey, he scored during the most recent international window – netting for England U19.
Lacey and Fletcher Can ‘Step Up’ Says Amorim
Speaking to the media ahead of United’s game against Everton, Amorim was asked about the impact of Mbeumo, Amad and Mazraoui departing over the Christmas period for AFCON.
He responded: “Guys like Jack Fletcher, Shea [Lacey], they can step up.
“We can send, at the same time, a message to everyone here in the Academy that this is the future. But we are going to struggle, and we have to be prepared for that.”
On Lacey, who is quickly becoming a fan favourite, he added: “I’m really happy with him.
“I think he struggled a little bit with injuries, but they did a very good job balancing his body, and you can sense he can manage more load during training.
“He has a lot of talent, but when they come here, they can sense the speed is completely different, so they need to spend more time with us to be prepared because our trainings are hard, but Premier League games with pressure are harder. So, they need to be ready.”
Chido Obi, who made his first-team debut last term, is another youngster who could play a more prominent role in the coming weeks, especially with Benjamin Sesko out injured.
The young Dane has impressed for United’s youth sides since joining from fellow Premier League side Arsenal in September 2024, having registered 19 goals and four assists for the club.
