Luke Shaw Can Become 1 of the World's Best Left-Backs at Manchester United
Luke Shaw can’t play a game of football for Manchester United without the tag of “world’s most expensive teenager” being used as some sort of caveat.
One unsteady performance against West Bromwich Albion saw some question the potential £31 million fee United paid to Southampton at the start of the summer, but impressive displays against West Ham United, Everton, Chelsea, Manchester City and Crystal Palace suddenly become the least that is expected of him.
Most 19-year-old footballers make fleeting appearances from the bench, or they are loaned to gain experience. Shaw, however, is playing his third full season in the Premier League, and it’s clear he has the potential to become one of the world’s best left-backs.
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When Southampton secured promotion back to the Premier League in 2012, Shaw was one of four academy players to be offered a professional contract.
He went on to play 25 league games for the Saints in the 2012/2013 season as a 17-year-old, which included a run of 16 consecutive matches from November to February. In the space of less than a year, he went from academy product to first-team regular.
Last season, still only 18, he was named in the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Premier League Team of the Year, per PremierLeague.com, having played in all but three of Southampton’s league fixtures.
Shaw typified the energy and verve of Southampton’s young side during those two seasons, making a total of 60 Premier League appearances. To put that into context, Tom Cleverley has made 88 appearances at the age of 25, per PremierLeague.com.
United didn’t just sign Shaw as a long-term prospect. They were buying someone who was relatively experienced and unquestionably talented.
Shaw missed United’s first five games of the season due to a hamstring injury, and he was the last of Louis van Gaal’s six summer signings to make their debut.
Lining up alongside a fellow 19-year-old debutant in Paddy McNair, a summer signing playing his first game at centre-back in Marcos Rojo and a right-back who had recently returned from a long-term injury in Rafael, Shaw played brilliantly in United’s makeshift defence against West Ham.
The same four players started a week later against Everton—which remains the only time Van Gaal has been able to field the same defence two games in a row this season—and Shaw was again solid despite giving away a penalty.
If one aspect of Shaw’s play stood out in his first two games, it was his defensive ability. Liverpool’s Rickie Lambert made the same observation when the two played together at Southampton, per ManUtd.com.
"To be where he is in such a short time is unbelievable. He has everything. Not many people get past him—the best wingers in the Premier League won't get the better of him. I can't remember one. For such a young lad it is frightening really.
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Shaw struggled a little in his first away game for United, as he was caught out of position a number of times at West Brom. Against Chelsea and Manchester City, however, he tackled well and rarely got beaten on United’s left-hand side.
Patrice Evra was guilty of more than a few defensive lapses last season, and the same can be said of United’s defence in general in the current campaign, but Shaw’s natural ability to defend well is refreshing and bodes well for the future.
United’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace was the first time Shaw really got the opportunity to show what he can do going forward in attack.
Midway through the first half, he picked the ball up inside his own half and burst past three or four Palace players as if they weren’t there. His shot was well saved by Julian Speroni, but it was fantastic play nonetheless.
It was noticeable that, after that initial run, the crowd lifted whenever Shaw got the ball in space. His pace, power and directness in carrying the ball forward was something fans at Old Trafford hadn’t seen of him in a United shirt until that point.
Once United shore up defensively and he gets more freedom in attack, Shaw will become a potent threat on the left-hand side.
In many ways, Shaw is a complete player at just 19. He defends well, attacks well and he has a strong physique. He will only get better under Van Gaal’s tutelage.
If he is lucky enough to stay injury-free for the majority of his career, he could go on to break a number of appearance records for both United and England.
Shaw is already among the best left-backs in the Premier League, and before long he will be among the finest in that position in world football.
All stats via WhoScored.com unless otherwise stated
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