Manchester United faces a significant setback as they navigate the remainder of the season without one of their key players, dealing a blow to Erik ten Hag’s plans.
Struggling to maintain consistency, United currently sits sixth in the Premier League, trailing leaders Liverpool by 13 points.
Throughout the campaign, injuries have plagued Ten Hag’s squad, and now they face yet another hurdle. England international Luke Shaw is reportedly set to sit out the rest of the season due to injury, according to the Daily Mail.
Shaw experienced a recurrence of a leg injury during last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Luton Town. This setback comes just after he was brought off at half-time in the previous match against Aston Villa, highlighting the risks involved in his early return to action.
With Shaw likely sidelined for the remainder of the campaign, United finds themselves short on options at left-back. This situation prompts questions about the decision to terminate Sergio Reguilon’s loan deal from Tottenham in January.
Additionally, second-choice left-back Tyrell Malacia, who has been recovering from knee surgery, has yet to feature this season and recently faced a setback in his rehabilitation.
As a result, Ten Hag has been forced to deploy Victor Lindelof and Sofyan Amrabat in the left-back position at times, posing a challenge for the Dutch manager as United prepares to face Fulham at Old Trafford.
Shaw’s injury not only impacts United’s domestic campaign but also raises concerns for England manager Gareth Southgate ahead of Euro 2024. Shaw was expected to play a crucial role as England’s left-back in the tournament, which kicks off on June 14.
However, his latest setback casts doubt on his availability, ruling him out of upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.