Lacey’s rise has been meteoric. After his double against Crystal Palace‘s U21s, he caught the eye ofboth Tuchel and Ruben Amorim, with the latter even having him train occasionally with United‘s first team. Already drawing comparisons with England and Manchester City star Phil Foden, Lacey has been earmarked by many as a future footballing superstar.
Lacey’s versatility, which sees him shine as both a right-winger and an attacking midfielder, has given him the edge over other young hopefuls. Despite not yet making his senior United debut, Lacey’s exceptional performances in the youth ranks have made him impossible to ignore.
Lacey wasn’t the only surprise inclusion in England’s latest first-team session. Alongside him, 19-year-olds Lakyle Samuel and Harrison Murray-Campbell were also called up. Samuel, a defender on loan at Bromley from Manchester City, and Murray-Campbell, a Chelsea defender, were both given the chance to impress in the senior setup.
Lacey’s stock continues to rise as he carves out a reputation as a future star. Last week, during an impressive 2-0 win over Liverpool‘s Under-21s, scouts from across the EFL and Premier League were seen flocking to the game. As soon as Lacey left the pitch, many scouts, believing the show was over, packed up and left, such was the teenager’s impact. His performances have impressed United first-team regulars like Harry Maguire, who have been left in awe after seeing Lacey’s skill up close in training. The calls for Lacey to be included in the first-team matchday squad are growing louder with each passing game.
Despite Lacey’s rapid rise, he has so far only featured for England at U15, U16 and U17 levels. However, in a major milestone this month, he was called up to the under-20s. With his potential now firmly on the map, it might not be long before this United wonderkid is lighting up the senior England squad.
