Luke Shaw has emerged as a doubt for the Community Shield. It comes as no surprise.
It was always asking a lot for Luke Shaw to be fit for this weekend’s Community Shield match against City at Wembley, with just one week of training behind him.
And while Shaw was pictured in a small training group this week, he was not seen amid training photos released by the club earlier on.
Erik ten Hag has now confirmed Shaw is a doubt for the Community Shield, along with three other first team players, in addition to the injuries we already know about.
Manchester United fans on Luke Shaw
Manchester United supporters are not a happy bunch right now with this news. Tyrell Malacia is still sidelined, not expected back for another two months.
So once again, United are heading into a major game without a senior left-back. It’s a situation the club are well used to, but a hugely frustrating one.
And this is made worse by the fact Luke Shaw started the Euro 2024 final for England just one month ago.
“Shaw is always some how magically fit when it comes to England, but never his club. It’s becoming a joke now,” one fan wrote on X.
Another added: “Wait, so Luke Shaw missed most of the season… magically got selected and got fit to play for England, had an extended break, and still came back injured?”
A third wrote: “You would swear Luke Shaw gets paid every week only to play for England.”
Another supporter wrote: “Shaw miraculously fit for England but can’t play for United. Priorities all wrong, bin.”
And another fumed: “Luke Shaw is an absolute liability. Put England ahead of club. Injury prone but problem is nobody will buy him and pay the wages for such a sick note! It’s got to the point where we should sign a LB and pay Shaw off and cancel his contract.”
“Luke Shaw not fit for Saturday is an absolute disgrace. Anything sums up United in the last 11 years it’s him, be a nightmare to sell (wages) and injury record..”, another furious fan wrote.
Another fan echoed: “Luke Shaw is such a joker, wasn’t fit to play for England , decided to play for England anyway and is now injured again for Man Utd Time to sell before we get pennies for him.”
Fans raise valid point on Shaw
On one hand, the game is ‘just’ the Community Shield and Luke Shaw has had just a week’s worth of training, if that. Throwing him straight in, would be an error which could make his situation worse.
Yet, United fans are fed up with Luke Shaw’s injury record, he has not played a first team game since February, and suffered four different injuries last season.
United pay Shaw’s wages, and the responsible thing to do would have been not to go away to Euro 2024, and focus on his rehabilitation at United, in order to undergo a full pre-season.
This has not actually helped Harry Maguire, who is also out with injury, but Shaw’s case is slightly different, with his troubled injury history now dating back a decade.
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