![]() Indications are this might be about to change. Though injuries have clearly played a part, 49 starts in three-and-a-half seasons aren't sufficient. He started 18 games in all competitions in his first season at Old Trafford, eight in his second, 17 in his third and he's at six this season. United are not Southampton and Shaw took some time to get his head around the size of his new club, but he also wasn't given enough minutes to acclimatise. Mourinho seemed to share his predecessor's reservations. They certainly thought he had the talent, though Louis van Gaal doubted he possessed the application, mental toughness or character to become a first teamer. The club had wanted him to be the left-back for 15 years, a new Denis Irwin or Patrice Evra. Marcos Rojo can play there as he does for Argentina, while United have also played three at the back without a conventional left-back. The versatile Ashley Young has excelled there and teammates joke that he's the new Cafu, the legendary Brazilian left-back. Daley Blind, a midfielder who is caught by the fastest wingers, has occupied the slot Matteo Darmian, a right-footed right-back, too. ![]() United's left-back position was seen as the weak point for the team this season. Though talented, the club will be cautious about paying so much for a teenager after the Shaw experience. United have also watched Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon, 17. United have been linked with several left-backs, from Tottenham's Danny Rose who seemed keen to push himself out of the London club and get back to the north of England from where he hails. His teammates were convinced that Mourinho didn't rate him. However, he didn't start a single first team game until December against CSKA Moscow in a Champions League match that had little significance. Things looked to have improved early this term when in August he turned out for United's Under-23s team. Luke Shaw and Jose Mourinho have endured a strained relationship at Manchester United. He'll hope to be sharp against Derby County at Old Trafford on Friday. When match fit, he looks powerful and driven. Shaw's robust build can be a strength and a weakness. Perhaps understandably, he's looked rusty when he's returned in between those injuries and he was castigated by Wayne Rooney for not making an overlap in a FA Cup third round game against Wigan a year ago. ![]() ![]() He made a comeback only for a foot injury to end his season. He came back for the 2016-17 season and started in Mourinho's first five league games, but he played poorly in the fifth at Watford, was dropped, then suffered a groin injury. More focussed, he started the second season much better before a horrific leg-break injury against PSV Eindhoven in September 2015. Shaw had admitted that he wasn't as committed as he should have been in his first season at the club in 2014-15. ![]() I've spoken to him every preseason and in Los Angeles this year he stressed: "I do think that I've been unlucky with injuries. But while the French midfielder was sold to Everton a year ago, Shaw has hung on at Old Trafford.įrom Shaw's perspective, his time in Manchester has been hampered by injury. It was United rather than Liverpool who signed both players for big money, yet neither move appeared to have worked out. Shaw was rapid, strong and comfortable attacking as his side outplayed United, but only drew 1-1. The United manager has also emphasised Shaw's attacking intent, a quality vital for a United full-back and one which was evident when he came to Old Trafford in 2013 with Southampton and so impressed alongside another Saints player, Morgan Schneiderlin. Jose Mourinho has been impressed by Shaw since he started figuring in his plans again during December, talking up his creativity and intensity. While only on the winning side once - at Everton on New Year's Day - Shaw can be pleased with his performances, as well as his full-game consecutive appearances. Still only 22, the left-back has played 90 minutes in four of the last five United games. Just when you were thinking there's no hope for Luke Shaw at Manchester United, he confounds expectations. ![]()
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