Overview
- Lacey, who coaches now say follows the first-team program each day, was described Friday by U21 boss Adam Lawrence as training with the seniors and using U21 games only to top up minutes.
- His availability for Tuesday's Premier League International Cup quarter-final against Real Madrid Castilla is undecided because Michael Carrick plans a four-day first-team camp in Dublin.
- The winger has recovered from a calf problem and has scored eight goals in nine Premier League 2 matches this season, which is driving the plan to balance training and game time.
- He made his senior debut in December under Ruben Amorim, hit the bar in a late cameo at Burnley, then received a second yellow in the FA Cup loss to Brighton in what staff call a learning experience.
- Lawrence says Lacey has elite technical ability but is still catching up physically, with England youth involvement and recent senior work seen as steps toward a full first-team transition.