As 12-minute cameos go, Shea Lacey’s performance off the bench for Manchester United last night was a memorable one.

The 18-year-old attacker was introduced in the final period of a pulsating clash at Turf Moor, with the Red Devils locked in a stalemate with Burnley after scoring two goals apiece.

Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher had taken charge of the senior side in the wake of Ruben Amorim’s dismissal on Monday morning. The Scot showed no fear in throwing a young player onto the pitch in search of a last-minute winner — a cardinal sin perpetrated by his Portuguese predecessor in recent months.

Lacey was brought on in the 84th minute in place of Manuel Ugarte with the game poised at 2-2.

While the scoreline remained the same as Stuart Attwell blew his final whistle, it was the youngster who came closest to breaking the deadlock — with his first touch of the ball. Lacey picked the ball up on the right-hand side and immediately drove towards the Burnley goal.

There were options in the box to pick out, but the audacity of youth prevailed and he instead unleashed a thunderous effort from 30 yards out, with the ball cannoning off the bar, inches away...