The sigh of relief which greeted the news of Luke Shaw’s availability ahead of Sunday’s trip to Luton Town was not just a reflection of the England international’s importance to the Manchester United system, but also how much Victor Lindelof struggled in his absence.
The phrase ‘night and day’ comes to mind. Take away the cheese, here you go, enjoy your chalk.
Within minutes of stepping off the bench at Villa Park – Lindelof coming on after Luke Shaw was subbed at the break – the Swede had gifted the ball to the home side in a threatening position before failing to stop a Matty Cash cross as Andre Onana bailed him out with a point-blank save to deny Ollie Watkins.
A ‘fish out of water’ was The Sun’s description of Lindelof’s ‘torrid’, ‘4/10’ performance.
Now, with the Daily Mail reporting that Shaw could miss the rest of the season after suffering a reoccurrence of that leg injury away to Luton, a Man United fanbase who watched Lindelof toil from behind the back of the sofa during 45 heart-stopping minutes in the Midlands may now have to endure 13 more games of nausea-inducing nervousness.
Luke Shaw injured again for Manchester United
It’s not as if Diogo Dalot can simply switch flanks, either. With Aaron Wan-Bissaka set for another couple of weeks on the sidelines, the Portuguese is needed on the right.
Furthermore, given how impressive Dalot has been during United’s finest run of form this season, Ten Hag may have reservations about changing his role even when Wan-Bissaka is available again.
For the time being, United have little choice but to limp on without a recognised left-back. Maybe Sofyan Amrabat, the seldom-seen loanee, could be offered the chance to jump-start his United career on the flank. The Moroccan performed impressively there against Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup a few months back.
Harry Amass, meanwhile, is coming on leaps and bounds in the academy. But, at just 16, it would be a massive risk throwing him in at the deep end.
Peruaps the most painful aspect of this less-than-helpful situation is that United cannot claim they could not see it coming.
Injury curse strikes again for Erik ten Hag
Tyrell Malacia has not played a minute all season, and Shaw would almost rival Anthony Martial in the ‘injury prone’ stakes. If Ten Hag could turn back the clock, would he have looked to extend Sergio Reguilon’s loan from Tottenham Hotspur. Or, rather, would he have stopped Alvaro Fernandez from joining Benfica on deadline day?
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, of course.
A lot more ‘wonderful’, anyway, than the prospect of Victor Lindelof stepping into Luke Shaw’s shoes during the final three months of a season littered with all manner of injury issues.
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