Manchester United's teenage forward Shea Lacey is on the verge of breaking into the first team, according to Under-21 coach Adam Lawrence. The 18-year-old England Under-20 international has been training regularly with the senior squad and featured in recent matches under managers Ruben Amorim and Darren Fletcher. Lacey made his senior debut in December's 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, coming on as a substitute.

Despite a red card in the FA Cup loss to Brighton, where his reaction to conceding a free-kick earned him a one-match ban, Lawrence believes the experience has been valuable for Lacey's development. The young forward has scored six goals in three under-21 games and is expected to feature in Tuesday's Premier League International Cup quarter-final against Real Madrid at Old Trafford. United's coaching staff view Lacey as a 'unique case' - technically elite but a late physical developer.

Lawrence emphasized that Lacey will continue training with the first team while playing under-21 matches to gain necessary game time. With Michael Carrick now in charge, Lacey has been on the bench once but remains firmly in the club's plans. His progression represents a significant boost for United's academy system, which has produced talents like Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood in recent years.