Luke Shaw has not started a game since the 4-0 defeat to Brentford with summer arrival Tyrell Malacia keeping him out of the team after replacing him at half-time against the Bees.
Shaw has still been called up to the England squad despite enjoying just 20 minutes of football in the last five weeks, having just come back from a foot problem. It would be a surprise if the 27-year-old doesn’t make the plane for Qatar but his World Cup starting spot is at stake.
The picture looked ominous for the left-back when Malacia became Erik ten Hag’s first signing as United boss. The Reds lost both of the matches Shaw started at the start of the season and that was enough for Ten Hag to wield his axe.
READ MORE: Paul Merson slams Luke Shaw's inclusion in England squad
The manager was very clear in his expectations of his squad when he came in. “I have high standards because you are here, you are playing for Manchester United, then you must bring every day on the pitch,” he underlined.
Shaw showed he understood this when speaking in an interview following the 4-0 pre-season win over Liverpool in Bangkok. "He’s [Ten Hag] spoken a lot about the team and the structure and the way he wants to play,” he said.
“It’s a lot of details, but details win games and with his philosophy and the way he wants to play, we need to listen. It’s really good to have an idea of what the manager wants and it’s down to us to go and show that on the pitch.”
Unfortunately for Shaw, it looks as though he’s not quite achieved that objective. Ten Hag’s wing-play is a vital part of his team’s set-up and Malacia looks more adaptable in this regard.
With his 45-minute substitute appearance against Brentford included, he has kept four clean sheets in eight matches - half of them - while Shaw has only kept one in three outings.
Shaw can show Ten Hag that he does have the credentials needed to carry out his tactics if he gets a run-out for England this month. The positive aspect is that he knows what he needs to do to get back into the team, but the task looks to be a difficult one.
READ NEXT:
