Man Utd's Lacey, 18, knocking at first-team door

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Shea Lacey has scored eight goals in nine Premier League 2 appearances for Manchester United this season

Manchester United Under-21 coach Adam Lawrence says the club are excited about teenager Shea Lacey's progress and he is now virtually a full-time member of the first-team squad.

After four occasions as an unused substitute, England Under-20 forward Lacey was given his senior bow by Ruben Amorim in the 2-1 loss at Aston Villa in December.

The 18-year-old also played in both matches during Darren Fletcher's short stint as interim boss, catching the eye with a late cameo at Burnley before being sent off in the FA Cup defeat by Brighton - when his reaction to conceding a free-kick led to a second caution and a one-match ban.

Lacey has been on the first-team bench just once since Michael Carrick took over in January but, after six goals in three under-21 games and recovering from a calf issue, he looks set to be in Lawrence's team for the Premier League International Cup quarter-final with Real Madrid at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

United's coaching staff believe Lacey's red card - which he publicly apologised for - has played a valuable role in in his development.

"Shea is quite a unique case," Lawrence said.

"He's always had an elite technical level. He can do things with the ball which are, without getting too carried away, genuinely first-team level.

"But he's been a later developer physically, so players like that need more time and patience.

"Day-to-day Shea will train with the first team and basically follow their programme, and then be topped up with under-21 games when he needs to be playing."

Carrick has been a regular presence at academy games since he took charge at the start of the year.

Lawrence says communication with the United head coach is good and he was aiming to "sweet talk" Carrick into releasing Lacey for the Real Madrid game, as opposed to taking him to Dublin for next week's four-day training camp.

"Shea has had one or two little niggles that have disrupted his rhythm a little bit but he's definitely someone the club is really excited about," Lawrence added.

"We do believe he is a player that can fully transition into the first team eventually.

"Michael has been supportive. He understands the marquee games for the academy and the ones that he and the club feel are good to be involved in."