Luke Shaw's impending return sparks optimism for Manchester United
Posted : 22 November 2023
In a significant boost for Manchester United's manager, Erik ten Hag, Luke Shaw has made a triumphant return to full training after a grueling three-month absence due to a persistent muscle injury. The English defender's last appearance dates back to the disappointing 2-0 loss against Tottenham on August 19.
However, with his recent participation in a Carrington training session alongside the first-team squad, Shaw is now on the cusp of making a comeback, potentially gracing the pitch at Goodison Park in the upcoming clash against Everton on Sunday.
Shaw's return couldn't have come at a more opportune time for Ten Hag, who has been grappling with defensive reshuffles in the absence of the seasoned left-back.
During Shaw's prolonged absence, the manager had to deploy the likes of Sergio Reguilón, Diogo Dalot, Victor Lindelöf, and Sofyan Amrabat to fill the void on the left flank. Tyrell Malacia, the backup left-back, has also been sidelined due to an ongoing recovery from a knee injury, further exacerbating Ten Hag's defensive concerns.
Despite the positive news of Shaw's return, Ten Hag is still contending with a substantial injury list. Players like Lisandro Martínez and Casemiro are anticipated to be unavailable until post-Christmas.
Moreover, Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Højlund suffered injuries in United's recent fixture, a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Luton Town at Old Trafford. Jonny Evans is also on the sidelines due to a muscle injury sustained in the 4-3 defeat to FC Copenhagen, while goalkeeper André Onana faces a fitness assessment after encountering a back problem during international duty with Cameroon.
Onana, who returned to the UK on Sunday, remains optimistic about his fitness for the Everton clash. However, if he is unable to feature, Ten Hag might be compelled to hand a United debut to Altay Bayindir, the £4.3 million ($5.4m) summer signing from Fenerbahce, who currently serves as the team's second-choice goalkeeper.
The situation adds an element of uncertainty to United's defensive lineup, emphasizing the ongoing challenges Ten Hag faces in managing the team's fitness and squad depth.
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