Luke Shaw suffers another injury 'setback' at Man Utd as Erik ten Hag's bleak final update on full-back comes to light

Shaw has endured a nightmare 2024 on the injury front and has not played for Manchester United since February. The left-back did play three times for England at Euro 2024 but was then subsequently ruled out of the start of the Premier League season with a calf injury. Shaw had been expected back in October but it has now emerged that the England defender is still some way off a comeback after suffering another setback in his recovery. Erik ten Hag offered a bleak update on the defender before he was sacked by Manchester United after defeat to West Ham.

Ten Hag said: "The process is not going as we expected. That's the truth. The setback, if you want to call it like this, we want also to do it very careful. When he is now dropping again, we want to be very careful. We know his past, we have to do this right, because we want him to be available, because he will have a big impact on our performances and also on our levels. We can't have him playing for some games and then drop out again. So, we will do it very carefully."

Shaw's injury problems have already angered fans who called for United to rip up his contract back in August. Club legend Peter Schmeichel has also been critical of Shaw for "not prioritising" his club side after seeing him play at the Euros and then be sidelined once more. Manchester United have been plagued by injury issues throughout Ten Hag's time in charge, with the Dutchman having complained such problems were "holding back" his team after another disappointing start to the season.

Manchester United will have to continue without Shaw for the foreseeable future with Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui and Lisandro Martinez having all filled in at left-back this season. Yet the England star will be eager to return to action soon and try to impress United's next manager. Ruud van Nistelrooy has taken interim charge after Ten Hag's departure, while Sporting boss Ruben Amorim is the current favourite to be appointed the next permanent Manchester United boss.