Manchester United wonderkid Shea Lacey netted a goal for England Under-20s in their match against Japan on Friday. Coming off the bench in the 60th minute, Lacey made his mark by opening the scoring with a precise strike from the edge of the box.

Despite his efforts, Japan managed to claw back a draw with a last-minute goal at the Eco-Power Stadium. This marked Lacey’s first goal for England U20s, following his initial call-up to the squad last month. The 18-year-old also had the privilege of training with England’s senior team at St. George’s Park during the October international break, after being promoted by Thomas Tuchel.

His performances have not gone unnoticed, with England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley singing his praises.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Carsley said: “He’s been in the pathway a good amount of time now and he’s a player that we rate highly.”

He added: “It worked out well that we needed that position for the training we were doing and Shea was more than happy to come over and train with the Under-21s.

“You can see he’s a good talent. I know he’s struggled with injuries in the past, which has probably held back his development, but I think it’s so important we don’t rush these young players, we let them develop in their own time. I think he trained two sessions with us and I enjoyed having him.”

In a conversation with the Manchester Evening News, United U21 boss Travis Binnion had high praise for Lacey. He said: “Listen, everybody in the world knows about Shea Lacey. So he needs a little bit of fortune, he needs to be patient with himself and everybody else needs to be really patient with him.

“He is in the same sort of area as Chido because of time lost. Different to Chido [Obi], Chido is fast progression. Because of time lost with Shea, he still has lots to come tactically, physically and mentally.

“Everybody can see – you have to be blind not to see – the talent he’s got. He’s got lots to do in his game and he knows. We’re still managing him physically because if he can stay on the pitch and can train every day, I think everyone thinks he could be a top, top player.”

United view Lacey as a potential first-team player and were cautious with his playing time last season, aiming to prevent any further minor injuries.

Lacey has attracted significant attention over the past few years, and those who follow the academy are thrilled about his potential.

Comparisons have been drawn between Lacey and Phil Foden and, much like the Manchester City star, Lacey’s long-term future could lie in an attacking midfield role.