When Luke Shaw was brought up in conversation last season, I was wholeheartedly convinced Manchester United had the best left-back in the Premier League.
Shaw has instrumental in the success Erik ten Hag achieved in his first season as Manchester United manager.
It is no wonder that United have struggled this season, with Shaw registering just 15 appearances across all competitions prior to another injury setback that rules him out for a few months.
The biggest concern I have when it comes to Shaw’s injury is that it’s a recurrence of a muscle injury. He’s had one too many of those this season and his potential absence for the remainder of the season causes a major issue at left-back for United.
Shaw’s injury record has been under the spotlight too many times for a player considered crucial to how we want to play under Ten Hag. Furthermore, I hate the idea of Sofyan Amrabat playing at left-back.
Is there anything else we can do? And don’t say Victor Lindelof…
There is no denying Shaw has unquestionable ability and he’s comfortably one of the best left-backs in the world, when fit. I can’t think of many left-backs that possess the same excellent technical skills and impressive pace, but this season has been another disaster for him in terms of injuries.
However, across Shaw’s 10 seasons at United, the left-back has averaged under 20 appearances in the Premier League per campaign and he’s only made more than 30 league appearances on two occasions – 2020/21 and 2022/23.
It won’t be wrong to critique Shaw’s injury record without making note of the horrific double leg break he suffered against PSV Eindhoven in 2015. That was a career-threatening injury that kept him out of training for a year and it could be having an impact on him now.
Time for difficult decisions
There needs to be a solution this summer.
United cannot rely on Shaw as their primary left-back if he is missing chunks of the season. It doesn’t help that Tyrell Malacia has been absent through injury as well, but we don’t rely on the Netherlands international like we rely on Shaw.
It’s counterproductive in the long run and United need to be reckless this summer, with reports of a squad overhaul.
The writing could be on the wall for Shaw, even though you could make a strong argument that he’s one of our key players. Too important to be without.
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