Manchester United have struggled underneath Ruben Amorim to this point. The Crimson Devils have to this point been led in 21 matches by their new supervisor, however have managed to win simply ten of these video games, shedding 9 occasions and drawing two alongside the way in which.
There have been some extremely disappointing defeats in there, too. They embody a 2-0 defeat away from house towards Wolverhampton Wanderers and a loss by the identical scoreline at Outdated Trafford towards Crystal Palace.
There have been some excessive factors, together with a win away to Manchester Metropolis and a draw at rivals and Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Nonetheless, they are going to now be with out the person who scored the essential targets in these video games, Amad.
Amad’s affect underneath Amorim
In a season of giant disappointment for the Crimson Devils, one of many solely good issues has been the performances of Amad. The Ivorian ahead was described as “unstoppable” after his Derby Day heroics by United legend turned Sky Sports activities pundit Gary Neville.
Regardless of a big effect within the tenure of former supervisor Erik ten Hag, Amad discovered alternatives sparse underneath the Dutchman. Nonetheless, that can’t be stated for his time underneath Amorim. The Portuguese supervisor seemingly loves the attacker, and has, at occasions, relied on him to dig his aspect out of a gap.
In 20 appearances underneath the previous Sporting CP boss, the United quantity 16 has managed six targets and 5 assists, with 9 of these coming in video games the place his aspect received or drew. Amad’s contributions have been huge this season.
So, for United to be with out Amad for the remainder of the season, is a large blow. Amorim confirmed final week that the Ivorian broken his ankle ligaments and can miss the rest of the marketing campaign.
It leaves the Portuguese supervisor with the unenviable job of discovering an in-house alternative.
Maybe the reply might lie in United’s ever-productive Carrington academy.
United’s in-house Amad alternative
Sunday afternoon’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur was a memorable day for a number of of United’s academy gamers. Amorim named eight of them on the bench, bringing Chido Obi onto the pitch for the ultimate throes of the sport, for his first-team debut.
Nonetheless, the answer to his Amad downside might not lie within the gamers he chosen on Sunday afternoon in North London, however within the type of Shea Lacey, an attacker who was not concerned towards Spurs.
Lacey is an attacking participant who’s held in excessive regard and is believed to have a “large future forward”, in line with soccer expertise scout Jacek Kulig. The teen has struggled with accidents in the previous couple of months however is lastly again to full health and taking part in weekly for United’s academy.
His file for the Crimson Devils youth aspect is spectacular. He has performed 30 occasions for the under-18s and the under-19s within the UEFA Youth League, scoring 5 targets and grabbing seven assists in that point.
Identical to Amad, Lacey is a left-footed proper winger, who excels within the half areas and has distinctive shut management. He’s additionally comfy chopping inside on his left foot and attempting his luck from vary, as this strike towards Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2023 reveals.
The Liverpool-born winger is a participant who can have a big effect in a brief house of time. His stats on Sofascore from a 26-minute cameo towards Galatasaray within the UEFA Youth League final season present this.
In that quick time, he created one massive probability and received 4 out of seven floor duels.
Lacey stats vs. Galatasaray u19s | |
|---|---|
Stat | Quantity |
Minutes performed | 26 |
Touches | 20 |
Move accuracy | 78% |
Passes accomplished | 7/9 |
Possibilities created | 1 |
Huge possibilities created | 1 |
Assists | 1 |
Stats from Sofascore | |
Maybe Lacey is the answer to changing Amad. He’s of the same profile and excels in the identical areas of the pitch as United’s Ivorian winger.
At 17 years of age, he’s maybe too younger to be thrown into the deep finish and begin each week, however alternatives off the bench could also be there.
Lacey definitely looks like a participant United followers can get enthusiastic about. Who is aware of, perhaps a first-team debut is not too far out of the image.
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