Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards has dropped his verdict on the key England left-back role between Manchester United ace Luke Shaw and Newcastle star Lewis Hall.
Luke Shaw had been an England mainstay under Sir Gareth Southgate and had locked down the left-back role under the former Three Lions manager.
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However, the 30-year-old Manchester United defender has not featured for the Three Lions since Sir Gareth Southgate’s last England match in charge in 2024.
Shaw started the final of Euro 2024 for England and played the full 90 minutes in the Three Lions’ 2-1 defeat to Spain at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany.
The England international fell out of the Three Lions starting XI and squad last season after an injury-hit spell at Old Trafford curtailed his run of form at United.
Micah Richards on Man Utd star Luke Shaw and Newcastle ace Lewis Hall amid the England left-back debate
Luke Shaw has seen a turnaround in form in the current campaign for Manchester United and has impressed under Ruben Amorim and interim boss Michael Carrick.
The former Southampton ace has started and played in all 26 of the Red Devils’ Premier League matches for the 2025-26 season after his career resurgence.
Shaw’s consistency in the heart of the Man Utd backline has led to speculation that he could climb his way back into the England squad under manager Thomas Tuchel.
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Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Micah Richards still thinks Lewis Hall should be England’s first-choice left-back for the 2026 World Cup in North America.
“While we’re just on Newcastle, Lewis Hall has to start at left-back for England,” he said.
“I think he will [start]. He’s absolutely amazing. To go from midfield to left-back, his spatial awareness, his timing of his challenges, he’s good on the ball, he’s got a good delivery, he’s got everything.
“His performances over the last two months have been outstanding. He’s by far the best in terms [of left-back options]. Luke Shaw’s done well since United have been doing well.”
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Thomas Tuchel inked a new England deal last week and ended speculation linking him as a potential long-term successor to former United manager Ruben Amorim.
The 52-year-old Three Lions boss is preparing for England’s 2026 World Cup run and Tuchel has noticed Shaw’s impressive resurgence in form in the 2025-26 season.
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“It is great that [Mainoo] is back on the pitch. He is such a huge talent,” he said during the UEFA Nations League draw in Brussels last week, as per ESPN.
“He has played already a tournament from start to finish for England, so he is back in the picture, so is Luke Shaw and so is Harry [Maguire].
“There are some players suddenly back in the picture; they play a back four now and play with a different style, which is a bit easier to translate to our structure at the moment. It’s good competition.”
Shaw has played as both a left-sided centre-back under Amorim and at his more preferred left-back role under United legend Michael Carrick this season.
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