TRONDHEIM, Norway: No Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko or Amad Diallo.
But while Manchester United’s mainstays were resting in Trondheim, 19-year-old Shea Lacey stole the show in a stylish 5-0 win over Rosenborg.
Five goals were scored, with four of them coming from academy products and each celebrating their first unofficial senior goals against Norway’s most successful club.
Lacey, Jacob Devaney, Harry Amass and Ethan Williams all found the target, flanked by Joshua Zirkzee’s stunning solo effort as United continued to pack up their pre-season preparations.
United manager Michael Carrick just didn’t have time to field 15-year-old gem JJ Gabriel who would have completed a perfect visit to Norway.
Gabriel’s presence in Carrick’s 25-man squad sparked expectations that he would be among the youngest players to ever play for United’s senior team.
However, it did not materialise as Carrick continued with his plans without almost all of the players who had just returned from the World Cup.
Sesko was also not taken due to a shin injury.
Lacey, 19, took over Fernandes’ role at number 10 and his unofficial first senior goal showed United fans the finishing touch that has become synonymous with Carrington academy players.
The Liverpool-born player calmly controlled the ball, tricking the opposing defence before firing a curling shot into the corner of the goal while dominating the game against a Rosenborg midfield that was already fit due to the domestic season.
In front of a rather quiet atmosphere with more seagulls than fans, Zirkzee produced a special moment with a quality solo goal as United bounced back from a 0-1 defeat to Wrexham in Helsinki.