Manchester United's teenage sensation Shea Lacey has been lavished with praise and compared to England superstar Phil Foden, despite a calamitous FA Cup debut that saw him sent off at Old Trafford.
A Dream Debut Turns Sour
The 18-year-old attacking midfielder was handed his first appearance at the Theatre of Dreams on Sunday, coming off the bench in the 62nd minute of United's third-round tie against Brighton & Hove Albion. The match ended in a 2-1 defeat for the Red Devils, with former United striker Danny Welbeck scoring for the Seagulls.
Lacey, making only his third senior appearance, initially made a positive impact. However, his afternoon unravelled spectacularly when he received two yellow cards in quick succession. The first was for a poor foul, and the second followed immediately for petulantly throwing the ball away after conceding a free-kick. The youngster left the pitch in tears as United crashed out of the competition.
High Praise from a United Legend
Despite the sending-off, former Manchester United defender Phil Jones believes the Carrington academy graduate has a glittering future ahead. Speaking on BBC's Match of the Day 2, Jones drew direct comparisons with Manchester City's Phil Foden.
'Shea Lacey is going to be a top, top player. He's got everything,' Jones stated. 'He's almost got the Phil Foden-esque touch and the way he dribbles. The way he commits players. He's direct, he only needs half-a-yard.'
Jones referenced Lacey's previous appearance against Burnley, where he hit the crossbar almost immediately after coming on, as evidence of his innate talent and fearless approach.
Controversy and Consequences
The decision to show a second yellow card has sparked debate. United's interim manager, Darren Fletcher, was critical of referee Simon Hooper after the match. Phil Jones, however, believed the official was technically correct, even if he showed a lack of leniency.
'I was devastated for him when he got sent off,' Jones, who earned 27 caps for England, added. 'The first one is a foul and it's probably a yellow card, just. The second one… the letter of the law states it is a second yellow card. I would like to have seen him bide his time a little bit, maybe give him a warning. I thought it was harsh.'
Lacey has since apologised for his actions, posting on social media: 'I want to apologise to all of my teammates, staff and the fans. I let everybody down tonight. I shouldn't let my emotions get the better of me. I will do everything I can to make this right.'
The immediate consequence of his dismissal is a one-match suspension, which rules him out of this Saturday's crucial Premier League Manchester derby against rivals City at the Etihad Stadium.
