Manchester United have confirmed on Thursday that left-back Luke Shaw is set to be sidelined for a few weeks due to an injury.
The statement from the club read: “Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has sustained an injury which will rule him out of forthcoming games. The muscle issue is still being assessed but the England left-back is expected to be out of action for a number of weeks.”
The club have only mentioned that the defender will be out for a prolonged period of time but have not mentioned an expected return date. He is set to be missing for United’s next two games against Nottingham Forest and Arsenal and is also a doubt for the England squad for the UEFA Euro qualifiers.
Manager Erik ten Hag may provide further updates on the injury during his pre-match press conference before the Forest game but Shaw’s injury has only been described as a ‘muscle issue’ as of now.
This news is set to be of huge concern for United as the 28-year-old has become one of United’s most important players under ten Hag over the last 13 months. He is one of the most experienced players in the squad.
After a tough start to the season, the last thing ten Hag would have wanted was to lose one of the players who is a major part of the team’s spine. The defender has started both of United’s Premier League games this campaign and is one of the leaders in the group.
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The problem is even worse than just Shaw’s injury as his understudy, Tyrell Malacia, is also currently out injured. Diogo Dalot, naturally a right-back, may be the only option for the manager to fill the Englishman’s spot.
United have just loaned out Brandon Williams to Ipswich Town on a season-long team earlier in the week, leaving them without many options.
Academy graduate Alvaro Fernandez may be an option for ten Hag as he is the only recognised left-back fit in the senior squad but the Spaniard has not yet started a game in the Premier League and hence Dalot is likely to get the nod ahead of him.
Earlier in the week, the Red Devils announced that new signing Mason Mount has been ruled out for a couple of weeks with an injury he picked up during their game against Tottenham. Shaw has now joined a long list of absentees for the club which includes youngsters Amad Diallo and Kobbie Mainoo.
However, it is being reported that United could finally see their new star-boy Rasmus Hojlund in action as he has a chance of being involved against Forest at Old Trafford on Saturday after returning from a back injury himself.
