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Manchester United star is “100% needed” back from injury, return date explained
Manchester United legend Andy Cole has explained that the injured club star is “100% needed” back in the team, as his return date is explained.
Manchester United‘s injury luck so far this season has been somewhat better than 2023/24 under Erik ten Hag, although it is still causing significant problems in the side.
Last campaign, almost every single one of United’s most important players missed several games through injury with the exceptions of Bruno Fernandes and André Onana.
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The most-impacted department was the defence, where the side had to start fielding Casemiro and an unfit Jonny Evans at centre-back while Diogo Dalot had to play as an auxiliary left-back.
While the injuries have somewhat eased with many more centre-backs available, the issues at full-back have remained, with Dalot the only fit traditional full-back at the club.
Noussair Mazraoui has been ruled out for a short period after undergoing a minor heart operation, while Tyrell Malacia has been out for almost 18 months, and Luke Shaw has yet to play this season following a calf injury.
Speaking to BetFred, former United striker Andy Cole explained that Shaw is most desperately needed back in the side.
“100% he’s needed,” Cole explained when asked if the side are desperate to have the England international back playing in his natural position.
“When you play a right-back at left-back, you’re immediately unbalanced and for that reason alone, Luke’s been a big, big miss.
“If he’s not fit, then [Tyrell] Malacia is needed because they’re two left-sided players and they’re needed to provide that balance in the team. Hopefully, one of them will be fit after the international break, and they can go from there.”
Regarding when Shaw will be back, Ten Hag was optimistic that the 29-year-old would be fit to play again shortly after the international break, although the upcoming tie against Brentford may be too soon.
Ten Hag issued an injury update two weeks ago: “We hope Luke Shaw can return after the international break quickly.
“I don’t know if it’s the first game we’re hoping for. I can’t in this moment tell this 100 per cent with security, but from now on, we have two-and-a-half weeks to work to the point, but shortly definitely after, he will be there.”
Shaw’s return will allow Diogo Dalot to play back in his natural right-back position for only the second time this season, and will also help boost the form of Marcus Rashford, who is known to perform much better once he has a player such as Shaw behind him.
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