Two Manchester United Academy stars ‘in a race’ to make debut under Rúben Amorim, they both trained vs Everton
Two of Manchester United’s Academy stars are reportedly in a race to make their first-team debuts under Rúben Amorim’s watch this term.
As the November international break comes to an end, Rúben Amorim is refocusing on Manchester United’s preparations for Monday night’s match against Everton.
United currently hold seventh place in the Premier League. They are level on points with Tottenham in fifth, only one point behind Sunderland in fourth, and two points short of third-placed Chelsea.
Despite a rough opening to the season, United’s form has improved significantly. They are unbeaten in five consecutive games and have been defeated just once in their past seven, helping them gain momentum in the league.
Everton sit 13th and have recorded two wins, two losses, and a draw in their last five fixtures. Their 2–0 setback against Fulham before the break has not disrupted the confidence within David Moyes’ squad as they prepare for the trip to Old Trafford.
Lacey and Fletcher in debut race
With United not playing any form of European football this season, Amorim has had a lot of time on the training ground to work with his team on implementing further ideas and to assess Academy players.
Often, United choose to call up two or three of the U18 and U21 stars to first-team training, and of late, this has regularly included young talents Shea Lacey and Jack Fletcher.
As spotted by official club photographers, the 18-year-old duo were called up to training once again as the club prepared to face Everton, with UnitedInFocus claiming they are in a ‘race’ with each other to see who will make their debuts under Amorim.
It is has also been noted that, despite the lack of gametime opportunities, Amorim has been careful and deliberate in ensuring young Academy talents are involved around the first team, with 15-year-old sensation JJ Gabriel also making an appearance with the group last month.
Amorim namedrops Lacey and Fletcher as AFCON replacements
The United head coach admitted last week that first-team midfielder Manuel Ugarte is struggling at the club, which points to a possible spot for Fletcher to take over in midfield. Meanwhile, with Amad and Bryan Mbeumo heading to the African Cup of Nations, Lacey could fill the spot on the right flank.
Amorim spoke to the press on Friday afternoon ahead of the Everton tie and was asked about the challenge of losing Amad, Mbeumo, and Noussair Mazraoui to AFCON, to which he namedropped Lacey and Fletcher as possible replacements during the period over the new year.
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“I think it is going to be hard but then, that is the good thing of the experience [last season],” Amorim said. “We lived [with] so many limitations last year.
“We changed in January, and we didn’t bring the players, then we had the injury of Amad for four months, all these things. We are prepared for that. It will be hard for us, but we have different baggage to deal with that.
“Guys like Jack Fletcher, Shea, 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.”
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