Luke Shaw makes honest Man United admission as club targets Premier League left-back

Luke Shaw was injured for much of the 2023/24 campaign with Manchester United but has made the England squad for Euro 2024.

Shaw, 28, had yet another frustrating season at United as he missed the FA Cup final victory and last played a game in February.

The defender has struggled with injury throughout his career ever since his leg break during his first season at Old Trafford.

However, the left-back has come out and clarified the situation regarding his latest injury as he responds to criticism over him being fit for England and not his club.

Shaw came off at half-time against Aston Villa in early February, and he admits that he only trained once before starting the next clash against Luton Town in what he now describes as a mistake.

“I felt something against Aston Villa and came off at half-time at Villa Park,” Shaw told reporters. “It’s kind of ­everyone’s fault. Partly my fault, partly medical staff, I think everyone would admit that.

“I didn’t train the whole week. The scan came back, and there wasn’t too much there. But I didn’t train all week, then trained the day before the game. If the manager asks me to play, I’m never going to say no. I shouldn’t have played.”

Shaw was in line to return for the cup final but received a setback in his recovery several weeks before the trip to Wembley.

“I think people have seen that there was a setback, but I was actually very close to returning to team training. I was, of course, pushing to try and get back for the games and the final, and I think I pushed too hard,” he added.

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“I came back too quick, and I actually ended up getting another injury in my hamstring, which was three weeks from the final, and they said it was a six-week injury, so that’s why there was that setback. I think people have been getting confused with what’s actually happened because nothing had been said.

“I got a few people coming up to me, saying: ‘How can you not be fit for United but fit for England?’ But the circumstances were that I did push to do everything I can to be fit for United, and that’s been really my whole season. It’s been disappointing for me, but I want to do everything I can, first and foremost, for United.

“It’s better for me to come out and say what happened because I think there were a lot of questions over how I could be here and not United. That’s been playing on my mind a little bit because I don’t want people thinking that that’s what I’m doing.”

Despite this, United are still actively looking for left-back support this summer after Tyrell Malacia also missed the entire season last term.

According to various reports, 20-year-old Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez is a player that United are interested in, and it is claimed that the South Coast side could hold out for upwards of £30 million.

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