I think Michael Carrick has a major selection decision to make ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League meeting with Aston Villa on Sunday, and Shea Lacey has given him every reason to consider making a bold change.
United finally brought their miserable nine-match winless run to an end with a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Roma in the Champions League at Old Trafford. It was the kind of result that could inject fresh confidence into the dressing room, but I would argue that the biggest talking point from the night was not simply the comeback. It was the impact made by a teenager who was given barely 20 minutes to influence the contest.
For much of the first half, things looked extremely uncomfortable for Carrick and his players. United found themselves two goals behind after just 17 minutes, leaving the home supporters stunned and raising serious questions about whether the team could find a response.
At that stage, I suspect very few people inside Old Trafford would have expected the evening to end with such a memorable victory.
Roma had taken full advantage of United’s defensive problems, and the hosts appeared to be heading towards another disappointing result. Their recent run of form had already placed considerable pressure on Carrick, and falling two goals behind so early only made the situation more difficult.
However, United returned after the interval with a completely different attitude.
Bruno Fernandes provided the spark by converting a penalty to reduce the deficit, giving the home side renewed belief that a comeback was possible. The Portuguese midfielder’s contribution was important, but the real drama arrived during the closing stages when Matheus Cunha took centre stage.
The Brazilian capitalised on a defensive error to bring United level in the 83rd minute before producing an outstanding finish just three minutes later to complete the turnaround.
Cunha’s winner was particularly impressive. He found himself in a difficult position and had little room to work with, yet managed to unleash a powerful strike from a tight angle that sent Old Trafford into celebration.
Unfortunately, his evening ended on a rather frustrating note.
After removing his shirt during the celebrations for the winning goal, Cunha received a booking. He subsequently picked up a second yellow card for a reckless challenge, bringing his involvement to an abrupt end.
It was an unfortunate way for the Brazilian to finish what had otherwise been a decisive contribution. Nevertheless, I believe his two goals will be remembered as the defining moments of United’s comeback.
But while Cunha and Fernandes deserve considerable credit, I do not think we should overlook the contribution of Shea Lacey.
The youngster was introduced in the 75th minute, replacing Amad Diallo, and immediately offered something different to United’s attacking play. His involvement was brief, but he made it count by providing the assist for Cunha’s excellent winning goal.
For me, that is precisely the kind of contribution that should make Carrick sit up and take notice.
Amad, unfortunately, had endured another disappointing outing from the right wing. The Ivorian struggled to make the desired impact in the final third, failing to register a single key pass and losing possession nine times during the match.
I am not suggesting that Amad has suddenly become a poor player or that one difficult performance should erase everything he has contributed to the team. However, when a manager has attacking options competing for the same position, performances and immediate impact must count for something.
And on this particular occasion, Lacey made a stronger case for himself.
Despite spending only a little over 20 minutes on the pitch, the 19-year-old managed three successful dribbles compared with Amad’s two. He also won four duels, just one fewer than his teammate, despite having significantly less time to influence proceedings.
There was another impressive statistic that caught my attention: Lacey completed 100 per cent of his passes.
That level of composure is encouraging, particularly for a young player coming into a difficult Champions League contest when his team desperately needed inspiration.
His contribution was also recognised by Goal.com, which awarded him a 7/10 rating for his performance.
Of course, statistics do not tell the entire story of a football match, but they certainly provide an indication of how effectively Lacey used the opportunity presented to him. He was positive in possession, willing to take on opponents and, most importantly, directly involved in the decisive goal.
I believe Carrick must now seriously consider giving him a much bigger responsibility.
United travel into Sunday’s meeting with Aston Villa needing to carry their Champions League momentum into domestic competition. Ending the nine-match winless run is certainly encouraging, but one victory will not suddenly resolve all the problems that have affected the team.
The pressure remains firmly on Carrick, particularly with United sitting just seven points above the relegation zone, despite being only a goal difference adrift of it.
That is not the kind of league position a club with Manchester United’s ambitions should be comfortable occupying. They desperately need another victory, and the visit of Aston Villa presents an important opportunity to build on Wednesday night’s dramatic result.
This is where I believe Carrick must be brave.
Lacey has demonstrated that he can offer energy, directness and creativity from the right flank. His cameo against Roma was arguably more productive than Amad’s performance over a considerably longer period, and the teenager deserves to be rewarded for that.
I would like to see Carrick consider handing him his first full Premier League start against Villa. It would undoubtedly be a significant responsibility, but young players cannot be expected to develop into important first-team contributors if they are never trusted with meaningful opportunities.
There is, of course, a difference between making an impact as a substitute and delivering over an entire match. Lacey still has plenty to prove, and Carrick would need to manage his development carefully.
However, I do not think that should prevent the manager from giving him an opportunity.
For me, the Roma performance has made the selection debate considerably more interesting. Amad has struggled to deliver the desired attacking influence, while Lacey has shown that he can bring a different dimension to United’s forward play.
Carrick has seen what the youngster can do. Now, he must decide whether he is prepared to trust him from the start.
After that impressive Champions League cameo, I believe Lacey has earned his chance. Carrick must seriously consider unleashing him against Aston Villa.
