Luke Shaw got a “cheeky” message from Erik ten Hag this week, although he wouldn’t disclose the details. We can probably guess that perhaps the Manchester United manager was telling Shaw he would see him on Thursday.
Ten Hag will be wanting the Netherlands to get the better of England in Dortmund on Wednesday night, sending Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo off on their holidays and getting them back for pre-season training at least a few days earlier than expected. He will also want his home country to reach the final of the European Championship.
Shaw’s smile as he discussed Ten Hag’s message – and his refusal to reveal the contents – hinted at the relationship between the two. Asked earlier in a press conference at England’s Blankenhain training base for Euro 2024, the left-back revealed his delight at his club manager staying on for another year.
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“It wasn’t really a surprise – I think he was always going to sign,” he said. “I think everyone’s very pleased with him staying. He’s had a trophy each season and I think there’s more to come.”
You would expect Shaw to be integral to that, although he could be feeling a bit of heat after an injury-hit 2023/24. It was the collapse of the left-hand side of United’s defence that proved so costly.
Shaw did at least manage to play 15 times last season, but it was a stop-start campaign derailed by two significant muscle injuries. His understudy, Tyrell Malacia, didn’t kick a ball all season.
That meant Sergio Reguilon filled in during his loan spell from Tottenham in the first half of the season, before Diogo Dalot and Aaron Wan-Bissaka played out of position, with Shaw not featuring after coming off at Luton on February 18 with a hamstring issue.
He made his return on Saturday, coming on as a sub during England’s quarter-final against Switzerland, and could play a more prominent role against the Dutch, at a time when the influence of that nation is growing at Carrington. Ten Hag will welcome seeing his left-back fit again, at least.
Shaw was a key performer in Ten Hag’s first season, playing 47 games, a mark he also set in 2020/21. But there’s been one more campaign of 40 matches (2018/29) among numerous seasons that have featured injuries. A total of 273 appearances in 10 years at the club says it all, even accounting for the dreadful double leg break he suffered in September 2015.
He turns 29 on Friday and England’s willingness to show patience with him this summer is a reminder of his importance to the teams he plays in. He is by some distance the best English left-back.
But United aren’t bound by national boundaries and after Malacia’s troublesome knee injury signing a left-back is being considered this summer, although as with so much of the business being done, it is going to depend on several factors, chief among them the funds available after the signing of a centre-back and a striker.
Shaw could certainly face more competition for his spot than he has in a long time, however. He admitted on Monday that he had gone through a couple of setbacks, including one in Germany, before his delayed return to action after more than four months out.
When England’s campaign does end, he will be granted at least a couple of weeks off before heading back to Carrington and hoping to put last season behind him. He will almost certainly begin the season as Ten Hag’s first-choice left-back and will enjoy the chance to develop that partnership with Lisandro Martinez once again.
He needs a season without any serious injury concern. Shaw is United’s best left-back and will expect to retain that status, but he can only do so if he’s fit and if a rival for his place does come in during this transfer window, it will raise the stakes.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
