Shea Lacey sends Man Utd fans message after appearing in first-team training session

Manchester United wonderkid Shea Lacey has sent supporters a message after he was spotted training with Erik ten Hag’s first-team squad.

Lacey, 16, is one of the most highly-rated talents within the academy at Carrington but suffered a long-term injury that impacted his season.

The right-winger has not featured for any of United’s academy teams since October after suffering a severe rectus femoris tear. He returned to training earlier this year but had a setback last month.

However, on Wednesday afternoon, the talented youngster was spotted training with Erik ten Hag’s first-team squad at Carrington alongside fellow academy talents such as Jack Fletcher and Ethan Wheatley.

Following the emergence of Kobbie Mainoo this season and Alejandro Garnacho last term, many supporters are excited about the potential prospects who will come through the academy next.

Lacey is at the very top of that list, and whilst his injury certainly would’ve been a setback, his quick inclusion in first-team training after returning—without any matches for the academy teams—shows how highly rated he is.

Following the training session, Lacey took to social media to express his happiness at returning to the grass after a difficult absence.

“[It’s] been a tough six months… good to be back out there,” he wrote on social media platform X, formally known as Twitter.

However, Lacey’s inclusion in Erik ten Hag’s training squad will not be his biggest moment this week.

The 16-year-old is expected to sign his first professional contract at Old Trafford on Sunday when he turns 17.

He follows Harry Amass, who signed professional terms last month before his inclusion in the matchday squad against Liverpool last weekend.