Following the sacking of Manchester United’s Ruben Amorim last week, INEOS has been left with the task of identifying a replacement to take charge until the end of the season, and possibly beyond.
Darren Fletcher has been in charge in both of the last two games, but the bosses are said to be eyeing options to replace the Scottish player until the end of 2025/26.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at one point looked like a favorite after making it clear he wanted to return to Old Trafford after a three-year spell between 2018 and 2021.
However, recent interviews suggest that fellow former player Michael Carrick will be in charge of the club until the summer, which could mean they could seriously pursue a permanent manager.
If the 44-year-old is chosen to lead the Red Devils over the coming months, there could be a chance to unleash a star player who has made strides through the senior ranks in recent weeks.
The statistics behind Shay Lacey’s rise to the Manchester United first team
United’s academy has been responsible for developing a number of elite-level talents in recent years, and attacker Shay Lacey will no doubt be next on the conveyor belt.
Aged just 18, he was handed his first first team appearance in the defeat to Aston Villa, and Fletcher appointed him as interim manager for two games.
He played a total of 33 minutes in each of those two games, but only seven of those minutes came against Burnley at Turf Moor last week.
The teenager cut inside with his favored left foot and almost came close to scoring his first senior goal of the tournament, but was denied by the crossbar.
As a result, Lacey made a 27-minute cameo off the bench against Brighton yesterday, rewarding the teenager for his checkered performance at Old Trafford.
He was able to complete 100% of the passes he attempted, while attempting two dribbles and finding a teammate with one of his crosses into the 18-yard box.
However, things quickly turned ugly for the teenager as he received two yellow cards in the space of a few minutes. The second one was for throwing the ball after a decision was made against him.
As a result, he was given his marching orders and sent off with minutes remaining, but this time his desire to succeed for the club apparently won out.
United star with greater talent than Lacey
Despite being sent off this weekend for the first time as a senior player, Lacey’s future at United certainly remains bright and the teenager has a chance to earn a starting spot in the coming years.
While Fletcher’s temporary appointment may not have had the result the fan base was hoping for, it certainly gave youngsters an opportunity to showcase their talent.
His seven-minute cameo was evidence of the threat he poses within the final third, which will only develop further as he adapts to the demands of the Premier League.
Lacey already has a wealth of creativity and speed, something that has been lacking in the Red Devils’ senior squad for months under Amorim.
But he is just one of a number of starters currently scheduled at Old Trafford, with the likes of Coby Mainu having the chance to take his career to the next level with Carrick’s arrival.
The 20-year-old has already been an important member of the first team for almost three seasons, having made his breakthrough at the end of the 2023/24 season.
His return to Old Trafford earned him selection in England’s squad for Euro 2024, and he went on to prove that the Red Devils have top-level talent.
However, Amorim’s arrival significantly stalled his progress at his boyhood club, with the 40-year-old often leaving young players on the bench behind the likes of Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro.
Following his sacking, the midfielder did not start a single Premier League game this season and has since played just 228 minutes in the Premier League.
The decision left many perplexed and led to Amorim’s last game as manager at Old Trafford, where his brother wore a ‘Free Koby Mainu’ T-shirt.
However, Carrick’s potential arrival could see him start his career in Manchester, with the 44-year-old’s experience as a midfielder at Theater of Dreams likely to aid his development.
The former player-turned-manager has managed to win five Premier League titles with Manchester, and this could help Mainu repeat his first-team success.
Koby Mainu – PL Statistics (2024/25) | |
|---|---|
Statistics (every 90) | tally |
games played | twenty five |
Play time (minutes) | 1656 |
Pass accuracy | 87% |
An opportunity has arisen | 1.7 |
dribbling success | 1.3 |
tackle win | 63% |
won a duel | 5.9 |
Number of intercepts | 1.2 |
recovery has taken place | 4.8 |
Statistics by FotMob | |
The academy graduate, dubbed a future ‘£100m footballer’ by United writer and journalist Alex Turk, still has plenty of time to reach the next level of his career and fulfill his potential.
His performance last season showed the talent he possesses, but Amorim tended to downplay it during his time as Red Devils manager.
But if Carrick takes the reins he is certain to bring his players back to that level and the interim boss will need to trust his youngsters to succeed.
The current midfield certainly lacks Mainu’s quality, and given his time in the first team so far, the youngster certainly has the opportunity to develop into a world-class star in the coming years.
Manchester United must immediately drop 23-touch flop lost to Shay Lacey
Manchester United were knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton on Sunday.
