A Make Or Break Season For Luke Shaw At Manchester United

photo credits:Getty images

Back in the summer of 2014, when Luke Shaw arrived at Manchester United from Southampton it was wildly touted Luke Shaw could go on to be the first choice left back at Old Trafford for the next decade. 
A teenage sensation at the south coast club, where he came through the youth system. Shaw was known for is attacking qualities from left back,
notably, his surging forward runs overlapping the winger, the youngster appeared to be the ideal successor to the iconic Patrice Evra when he arrived for £30 million. However, it has, so far unfortunately been a far from ideal match.

The first pre-season at his new club was a difficult one, the then new manager Louis van Gaal questioned the England internationals levels of fitness, having Shaw do extra fitness work by himself. It was a lacklustre start for a player trying to impress at a new club. United started the season without their new left back thanks to a hamstring injury suffered during pre-season. It was not until the September 27th, 2014 that the Old Trafford faithful got to see their new left back, more than a month after the season started. A stop start injury ravaged season saw the 2014 Golden Boy award nominee make just 20 appearances in all competitions in his first season.

The second season as a Red Devil started promisingly for the full back, Shaw started every Premier League game up until the middle of September. On September 15th, the left back suffered a double leg fracture following a tackle by PSV’s Hector Moreno. The season was over for the youngster, who’s disjointed career at Old Trafford continued.

Nearly a year after suffering the horrific injury, United’s left back returned to action in the Community Shield final, under the new management of Jose Mourinho. Despite being back to fitness it continued to be a difficult time for Shaw in Manchester. Following a defeat at Vicarage Road to Watford, the new United manager pinned the blame on his full back for one of the goals conceded by his team. That one game set the tone for the players season, in and out the team when fit to play but yet again niggling injuries hampered Shaw’s chances of making a breakthrough into the starting line-up. A game against Swansea saw the England international again picked out for criticism by Mourinho, forced off after just ten minutes in the game with an injury. The Portuguese manager said, “I think Luke Shaw’s injury must be a big injury, to leave the pitch after ten minutes I’m expecting a big injury”.

Following a 1-1 draw with Everton at Old Trafford in which the 22-year-old put in a positive performance, United’s manager undermined his players impact on the game saying “He had a good performance but it was his body with my brain. He was in front of me and I was making every decision for him”. It was another blow to the left back who couldn’t seem to do anything right even after his best performance of the season. The left back would go on to miss the season run in after picking up another long-term injury, yet another instance of the player being unable to put together a consistent run in the team.

Currently, Shaw remains injured and looks set to remain out of action for the long term. This Summer, Mourinho has not opted to bring a left back to Old Trafford which bodes well for the number 23. The left back berth is there for the taking, Shaw faces competition from Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind but neither of them are natural left backs and neither of them are particularly impressive standing in at left back. If the England international can get back to full fitness and get a run in the team he can save his Old Trafford career but by truly adapting to the managers play style will be vital.

You feel this season will be last chance for Luke Shaw to prove himself in Manchester given the demanding nature of his manager at United and the fact left back continues to be a problem for Mourinho with no one player nailing the position down. That will not be allowed to go on and a new left back will be brought in, that would leave Shaw in a precarious position and it would be a shame for such a talented player not to make it at Manchester United.

THIS POST FIRST APPEARED ON THESPORTSMAN.COM