Manchester United have been beset by injury problems all season – and Erik ten Hag has confirmed another blow for England defender Luke Shaw with two matches to go
Luke Shaw has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury and is now a major doubt to make England’s squad for Euro 2024.
Shaw had returned to training following a thigh injury and there was hope he would play again before the end of Manchester United ’s campaign. The left-back has been sidelined since coming off during United’s 2-1 win over Luton on February 18 and has missed 15 matches, giving Erik ten Hag a selection headache.
United travel to Brighton to finish their Premier League campaign on Sunday before facing Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley the following weekend. Asked whether Shaw and his England team-mate Harry Maguire would be available, Ten Hag gave a worrying reply on Thursday.
“For England, I can’t say – it’s not up to me,” he said. “But for the Cup final, we’re working on it. Harry Maguire, I think it’s a fair chance he will be available.
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“Luke is more complicated, in this moment. I think it’s less of a chance that he will make it but there is still a chance. He had a setback, and now we have to find out how he is.” Both United and England are short of options at left-back, meaning Shaw’s injury is a major problem.
Ten Hag has been without Tyrell Malacia all season due to injury and has been forced to field players out of position in recent months at left-back. Gareth Southgate is set to name his preliminary 26-man England squad for Euro 2024 on Tuesday and Shaw faces a race against time to make it.
Ben Chilwell started England’s last two friendlies, against Brazil and Belgium in March, and would appear to be the likely beneficiary if Shaw cannot recover in time, but he himself has been struggling with knee issues recently. England have friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland in early June before kicking off their tournament against Serbia on June 16. Levi Colwill and Kieran Trippier are other options for Southgate at left-back.
Speaking earlier this month, Ten Hag bemoaned United’s glut of injuries this season. “For over 10 years I am managing, I never had this experience,” he said. “So huge, so many injury issues, so I trust all my experience, it can happen once in 10 years. Hopefully now I have to wait another 10 to have so many injuries to deal with.”
United have plenty to play for on the final day of the season. Despite beating Newcastle 3-2 on Wednesday, they remain eighth in the Premier League table, needing another win over Brighton to compete for European places. Ten Hag could be preparing for his final two games as United boss, amid uncertainty over his future.
“All the issues will only distract us,” Ten Hag said. “We know what we’re building on and we have to keep this process going but at the same time we have to win games. The focus for me and the team is those two games.”
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