Sam Allardyce has placed the spotlight on Luke Shaw after the Manchester United and England defender’s impressive Premier League season at Old Trafford.
Luke Shaw’s playing spell at the Premier League club has been blighted by injuries after he suffered his horrific double fracture in his right leg back in 2015.
The 30-year-old England international was able to overcome his injury-hit form at Manchester United and played a key role for the Red Devils in their 2025-26 season.
Shaw managed to start in all 38 of Man Utd’s Premier League matches in their campaign, with the Three Lions defender scoring once and picking up an assist.
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A fourth highest points tally since Sir Alex Ferguson retired!⚡️
Former England manager Sam Allardyce on the two standout details from Luke Shaw’s 2025-26 Man Utd season
Despite his impressive run of form at Old Trafford, Luke Shaw was ultimately snubbed by Thomas Tuchel for the England squad for the 2026 World Cup.
England manager Thomas Tuchel also made the call to leave Manchester United left-back Shaw out of his Three Lions squad picks for the March international break.
Shaw had been a key United first-team player for both Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick in the 2025-26 campaign after showing his flexibility in the backline.
Sam Allardyce feels that Shaw proved a massive point after the United defender’s ability to play as both a left-sided centre-back and a left-back at Old Trafford.
“Well, I started in defence of Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw based on, you know, form and experience,” he said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast.
“You know, Luke Shaw, for the first time, for a long, long time, has played 38 games for Manchester United.
“So, he’s clearly… two things about Luke Shaw now. He plays equally as good at centre-half as he does at left-back. But obviously, he’s a left-back.”
“Now, a left-back with huge amounts of experience. [He has] experienced tournament football before. Fit as a fiddle, because he’s proven that.”
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Sam Allardyce on Harry Maguire’s Man Utd resurgence amid his praise for England star Luke Shaw
Just like United teammate Shaw, Harry Maguire was snubbed by Thomas Tuchel for England’s 26-man squad for this summer’s World Cup in North America.
Allardyce has been equally impressed with Harry Maguire after the former Man Utd captain’s form turned around under Red Devils head coach Michael Carrick.
“And then Harry Maguire [was] brought out from the cold. I mean, when I say cold, he’s been kept on ice, Harry,” he added.
“For many years now. And just waited, waited patiently, and then gone bang, bang, bang.”
Maguire, who inked a new deal with United in April, made 25 appearances across all competitions in the 2025-26 season and netted twice and registered two assists.
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