Overview

• Lacey worked with the senior squad this week and impressed Ruben Amorim and his staff, according to Centre Devils via OneFootball.
• Internal optimism about his first-team proximity has grown after recent sessions, with a noted U21 absence earlier this week not due to injury, per the Daily Mail’s Nathan Salt.
• Club planners are considering a well-placed loan in the January window if he is not in Amorim’s squad by then, with a foreign move among the options reported by Graeme Bailey.
• Coaches view his ceiling as high provided he stays healthy, with U21 boss Travis Binnion stressing that consistent fitness is the key to unlocking a top-level future.
• Recent youth outputs include a PL2 derby assist and a pre-season U21 goal, though limited senior openings this fall and an early League Cup exit could constrain near-term opportunities.