Manchester United’s 4-3 win over Wolves at Molineux was a frantic and frenetic game in the West Midlands but there was one player who stood out.
Kobbie Mainoo will get the credit and rightly so. The teenage midfielder scored an absolutely stunning winner deep into stoppage time in the 4-3 victory over Wolves following Pedro Neto’s dramatic equaliser minutes earlier.
However, before all of the pandemonium of the final 10 minutes, United were dominant in the West Midlands and there was a partnership, which has been vital for the Red Devils in the past few years.
The return of Marcus Rashford has been well-documented with the Englishman reinstated into the first team after missing the Newport game but it is another returning star who shone.
Shaw’s return
For the majority of this season, Luke Shaw has been absent for the Red Devils which has meant Sergio Reguilion or the ever-impressive Diogo Dalot moving over to the left side.
The Portuguese defender has done a good job for the Red Devils but the return of Shaw made a huge difference for the team in an attacking sense, in particular.
When Rashford received the ball on the left in the first half, Nelson Semedo didn’t know whether to stick or twist with the Englishman rolling the ball to the byline which led to Shaw firing in a low cross for Rasmus Hojlund to finish.
In fact, Shaw’s mere presence improved Rashford as he knew he could rely on the left-back and was forming some nice linkup play with the former Southampton defender.
Semedo was having a torrid time and United were creating attacks for fun down that side and Rashford looked back to his best knowing that he would have Shaw behind him, who has proven again and again that he can be relied upon.
Shaw’s performance
For Shaw, it is such a shame that the Englishman suffers from such a vast amount of injury problems because if he was fully fit, then he would be the best in the Premier League.
This was another outstanding performance from Shaw. The first half was about his attacking quality, whilst the second was about the composure he brings to the team when the Red Devils are under pressure.
According to Sofascore, he won five out of the seven ground duels he competed in and completed 89 per cent of the passes he attempted. He completed 75 per cent of the crosses he attempted and was very solid on that side.
Last season, Shaw was superb for the Red Devils and if he can rediscover that form, United could be in for an exciting end to the season.
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