Harry Maguire has taken it upon himself to help the younger players at Manchester United to settle into the first-team environment created by Ruben Amorim.
It has been a difficult start to the season for Manchester United, winning just two of their first six Premier League matches.
United also suffered defeat against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup, which means the Red Devils are only competing in the Premier League and FA Cup this season.
Ruben Amorim’s current objective is to qualify for European football, but that will prove to be a difficult challenge unless United start winning games consistently.
There are question marks over the team assembled by Amorim and whether he is right to overlook talented players like Kobbie Mainoo, after emerging from United’s academy under Erik ten Hag.
Meanwhile, there are many talented youngsters at United waiting for their senior debut. Some will achieve that milestone, while most will be sent elsewhere to pursue their careers in the professional game.
Shea Lacey mentored by Harry Maguire
Manchester United are always on the lookout for young talent.
Ineos have made that one of their priorities since taking control of football operations at Old Trafford, as seen with signings such as Chido Obi, Sekou Kone and Leny Yoro.
This is a clear sign that United’s transfer strategy has changed under Ineos.
However, talent also exists within United’s famous academy, as seen in recent years with the emergence of Mainoo.
United fans will hope to see more players emerge from the academy into the first team, as that would not only continue but also respect the club’s proudest tradition of putting faith in young players.
From the Busby Babes to Fergie’s Fledglings, perhaps the next crop of talent will go down in history.
One academy hopeful, who is attracting plenty of attention, is Shea Lacey.
The 18-year-old has been training with the first team in recent weeks, but has yet to make his debut with the senior side.
It is understood that Lacey impressed several United players with his level of technical talent.
However, United want to take it slowly with the young talent to avoid further injury setbacks, especially after the youngster experienced several issues that have halted his development.
Lacey has been in red-hot form in recent games for United’s under-21s, and he must maintain those levels if he wants a chance under Ruben Amorim. The youngster came off the bench to score a brace in a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.
According to the Daily Mail, United defender Harry Maguire has taken it upon himself to help Lacey settle into the senior group and act as a sounding board.
Maguire has been at United since 2019 and has made 252 appearances for the club. His responsibility will be to give Lacey advice when needed, but also to keep the youngster in line by showing examples of good professionalism.
At the beginning of August, Amorim named Maguire as one of his six leaders in the dressing room. It’s a credit to the player that he is taking his role seriously by helping Lacey familiarise himself with the first team squad.
Harry Maguire can take inspiration from Juan Mata
In 2020, Juan Mata revealed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave him a mentor role for youngsters and new arrivals at United.
Mata left United two years later, but he had a wealth of experience that proved beneficial when he had to deal with youngsters coming through at Carrington.
“I have been playing in a club, and in English football and professionally for 12, 13 years now so that gives me experience, especially in difficult situations, to behave in a certain way or give advice to the young players,” Mata told United’s official podcast.
“I think he [Solskjaer] values that also. Me as a player, what I can give on the pitch, but also that I will try my best off the pitch for the new players that come, like right now Bruno [Fernandes] and Odion [Ighalo] and for the youngsters that come through the academy like, Brandon [Williams], Chongy [Tahith Chong], Angel [Gomes] and Jimmy [Garner].”
Maguire will hope he can take inspiration from Mata by giving good advice to United’s next crop of first-team players.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
