Luke Shaw has been a mainstay in Manchester United’s defence this season after avoiding serious injury setbacks.
Having been plagued by injuries in previous seasons, Shaw is on course to play in every Premier League match for Manchester United this term.
Manchester United are sitting third in the Premier League, having secured Champions League football, with three games left to play.
While United are being linked with left-backs ahead of the summer transfer window, Shaw has had one of the most consistent campaigns of his career.
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Luke Shaw reflects on overcoming injury struggles at Man Utd
Shaw has had many injuries throughout his career.
The left-back suffered a horrific double leg break in 2015 shortly after moving to Old Trafford as a young prospect at Southampton.
On top of that, Shaw has had many calf and hamstring injuries, but this season he has managed to stay fit.
Speaking about his injuries on the latest Influencers podcast, produced by MUTV, Shaw said: “Honestly, it’s so tough.
“I think people just think, ‘Oh, he’s injured, he’s not bothered. He doesn’t care, he’s injured again’. But it’s not like that.”
Shaw claims last season was his toughest year.
“Last year I think was probably my toughest year. Obviously I broke my leg [in 2015] – that was completely different.
“But last year I just kept picking up injuries, and I just didn’t understand what was going wrong.
“It was so hard, like, emotionally, everything. It was so tough.
“I remember not knowing what to do. You feel like you’re letting people down. You feel like you’re letting your team down, the fans down.”
In turn, Shaw feels more resilient after overcoming his injury struggles. He must have a spring in his step after helping the team qualify for the Champions League.
“Thankfully, this season, I feel like I’ve come on a better side with injuries,” he added.
“That was one of the most important things for me at the start of the season, was just making sure I was fit for the whole season.
“It was a real tough period, but you just live and you learn. That also built me up even more, and made me more resilient.
“I learned a lot from it, and I’m in a much better place mentally for it now.”
- ⚡️ NEWS IN BRIEF
- Luke Shaw speaks candidly about overcoming injury struggles at Manchester United
- Shaw has played every Premier League match for United this season
- The left-back feels more resilient as a result
Appreciation post for Man Utd’s unsung hero vs Liverpool: Luke Shaw! How would you rate his performance?
Luke Shaw keen to share experiences to help next generation
Now that Shaw is one of the more experienced members of United’s dressing room, he is expected to lead by example.
The England left back has done that this season by showing how he can bounce back from setbacks at a time when many felt he was finished playing at the highest level.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. Now, Shaw is ready to help the youngsters in the team by sharing his experiences with them.
“I feel like that’s now kind of my job,” Shaw said.
“You have young lads now coming in, loads of them that have so much potential coming to this club.
“[It’s the] biggest pressure there is in football, I think. And it’s about how you learn and, and you live with it.
“For me, I’m grateful that I’ve been here for so long and I’ve had all them experiences, and I know how to deal with it and how to live with it.
“So I feel like – of course still playing – but also my job now is to give advice, and to help these young lads grow in experiences and understand the club and so they can really live it and, and enjoy it.”
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