Over the past two seasons, Shaw has been plagued by injuries again, limiting his appearances to 15 (12 in the league) and 12 (8 in the league) respectively.
Some fans believe nothing can restart, but Shaw has started every game this season and played the full 90 minutes for the most part. His appearance count has already exceeded the total of last season.
A Qatar trip arranged in consultation with Manchester United last March played a positive role in Shaw’s recovery. He underwent two weeks of treatment at the Aspire Academy Medical Centre in Doha, accompanied by a designated physiotherapist and a Manchester United senior official.
The medical team conducted a comprehensive assessment of him, focusing on the muscles in his right leg. A decade ago, Shaw suffered a double fracture in his right leg, so based on his history of severe injury, the medical team hoped to identify the root cause of his recurring injuries and help him recover to the same condition as his left leg.
This meticulous assessment, coupled with the warm climate, allowed Shaw to fully regain his fitness before pre-season and maintain good form when official matches began in August.
Manchester United’s philosophy is that they hope players’ dedication can translate into tangible results. Luke Shaw is currently on the pitch, but some argue that he is learning a new position and should not be compared to his previous level.
Manchester United highly values Shaw and held a special celebration for him at the training ground yesterday to mark his 300th appearance, hosted by football director Jason Wilcox.
However, in just over a year, he will be able to negotiate transfers with other clubs. His situation is very similar to that of his teammate Harry Maguire. Manchester United will decide whether to retain Luke Shaw, likely with a salary reduction; if they don’t, Shaw can leave.
Manchester United considers Luke Shaw a top player who understands the game and excels in one-on-one defense. As the team – along with the arrival of new goalkeeper Senne Lammens – gradually adapts, his positional awareness in the new role should improve, but he is ultimately a full-back who needs to deal with more aerial balls.
Shaw is approximately 178cm (5ft 10in) tall, which is a disadvantage for him. Manchester United staff have noted that all four of Arsenal’s defensive players are over 1.8 meters tall.
Manchester United staff agree with the evaluations of club legends on Luke Shaw, emphasizing his calmness on the ball, understanding of the game, effective off-the-ball movement, and ability to drive forward. Playing one game a week rather than two is more beneficial to him, as sudden increases from zero to two games a week are more likely to result in injuries, especially in his thirties.
Shaw’s candor is also highly praised – he admitted to reporters that he performed poorly against Manchester City after the game. That performance was unusual because one of his characteristics is consistency, even when he is part of a team that concedes too many goals.
Off the pitch, he has also performed exceptionally well this season. He arrives promptly at 8:30 every morning for extra training and attends sessions at Carrington Training Ground on rest days. He is quiet in the dressing room but well-behaved and has formed a friendship with Matheus Cunha. Overall, the atmosphere in Manchester United’s dressing room is much better than it was a year ago.
Luke Shaw is also eager to be selected for England’s World Cup squad. He has only made 34 appearances for England, 11 of which came in 2021, but he has been called up to the England team 8 times in the past 11 years. He has not been selected this year.
His desire to play for his country has not always been supported by fans, who would rather he focus on staying fit and playing for Manchester United.
The key is to keep him healthy and enhance his physical fitness through a cycle of training and matches. Mason Mount is facing similar issues. Both are frustrated by the arbitrary judgments about their injuries: they are professional players with healthy lifestyles and have not done anything to cause their injuries.
Manchester United’s current squad is not strong enough, and given Shaw’s age, it is unlikely that he will still be at the club when the team reaches its desired level. But for now, he is an important player who has earned his place through ability, and now with the return of Lisandro Martínez, he must work hard to retain it.
If there are any players who need some luck, it’s these two.
