Tim Sherwood believes Mauricio Pochettino will immediately hand Shea Lacey opportunities in his Manchester United team when he takes the reins at Old Trafford.
Lacey made his senior debut last year and has made six appearances in total for the senior side.
The 19-year-old was introduced from the bench with United in need of inspiration against Roma in the Champions League at the start of the month, providing an excellent assist for Matheus Cunha’s winner.
United have won just one of their 10 Premier League matches this season and sit in the relegation zone with Michael Carrick’s departure confirmed on Thursday.
Pochettino is expected to take charge of the game against Liverpool following the international break with reports suggesting Marcus Rashford is among the players he is especially keen to start working with.
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With Amad Diallo struggling for form having not registered a goal in almost a year, Lacey could soon get his next chance.
Sherwood, Pochettino’s predecessor at Tottenham who handed Harry Kane his first-chance in the first-team, believes the incoming United boss will be eager to also give the academy graduate a chance to immediately impress.
Sherwood told The Overlap: ‘100 per cent [Pochettino will want him in the team]. He deserves the opportunity and also it lifts the punters straight away.
‘The fans are on the up, they are thinking he is one of our own out on that pitch and he ain’t going to let you down.
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‘That pass he made in the Champions League game [against Roma], it’s a great pass, eye of the needle, he knows exactly the weight he needs to put on it.’
‘He has still got to develop and I think with Pochettino, he will make him develop. That individual development can’t stop when you’re in the first-team, they have to continue working on their trade.
‘What’s Diallo doing any different to him? So play him. Lacey must be looking at Diallo and saying “why aren’t I getting a chance?”’
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