Luke Shaw Will Excel at Manchester United Next Season When His Injuries Subside

Manchester United’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Chelsea may have ended a run of six consecutive Premier League wins, but the impressive performance of Luke Shaw stood out as one of many positives on the day.

The 19-year-old, who has been brilliant defensively this season but found his playing time limited due to a series of injuries, attacked with purpose and offered great width on the left-hand side of the pitch.

It was comfortably his best display in a United shirt to date.

Jose Mourinho was forced to bring on the defensive-minded Ramires to address Shaw’s growing threat in the game, which was typified by a number of surging runs behind the Blues’ defence.

In a wider context, he demonstrated why he deserves to reclaim his spot at left-back for the remainder of the season, even when Daley Blind recovers from his latest injury.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Blind's excellent displays against Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Manchester City highlighted his versatility, but he was poor defensively against Liverpool and struggled in the FA Cup against Cambridge United when playing left-back.

On what was a tricky evening against League Two opposition at the Abbey Stadium in January, Shaw actually replaced Blind late in the second half and United improved down the left flank.

Yet one area in which Blind has been better than Shaw is providing an attacking threat from left-back. Whether it’s been whipping in dangerous crosses, linking with a winger or offering an outlet, the former has got forward better than the latter and contributed more in attack.

That changed against Chelsea, as Shaw created United’s three best chances of the game.

In the first half, his smart cut back to the edge of the area was struck narrowly wide by Wayne Rooney. In the second half, Radamel Falcao hit the post on the back off his pinpoint through ball and Juan Mata nearly bundled home his cross from the byline. He might have registered three assists on another day.

Having played much of the season in a 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 diamond formation, Shaw benefited from the 4-3-3 system United have been so successful with in recent weeks. The presence of Ashley Young wide on the left took some of the attacking onus away from him.

It was a performance that should ease fears regarding his long-term ability to pose an attacking threat.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Defensively, there are no worries with Shaw. For someone still learning the game, he is already an extraordinary defender.

He is so commanding in one-on-one situations and has been dribbled past just four times this season. When you consider that he has played against Chelsea (twice), Arsenal, Manchester City, West Ham United and Everton sides that really tested United’s makeshift defence, it stands as a quite remarkable record.

On a per-minute basis, he’s been beaten by an opposition player once every 249 minutes, which is better than Aaron Cresswell (141 minutes), Kieran Gibbs (148 minutes), Leighton Baines (180 minutes) and Ryan Bertrand (237 minutes), his four direct competitors for the England left-back spot.

Shaw’s ex-team-mate at Southampton Rickie Lambert explained why he is such a good defender, per United's official website: "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."

His ability to limit his direct opponent's forays forward, whether they're a winger or a full-back, owes much to his speed and strength. Contrast his physical attributes to Paddy McNair, United’s other teenage defender, and it’s clear his physique and athleticism are not those of an ordinary 19-year-old.

As United continue to improve on the shaky and nervy performances that typified the uninspiring start to the season, there’s no question that, purely from a defensive point of view, Shaw has to play at left-back.

Al Diaz/Associated Press

In truth, Shaw’s frustrating debut season at United has been marred by one thing: injuries. Having missed just three of Southampton’s Premier League games in 2013/14, he has already been absent for 19 of United’s 33 league fixtures in 2014/15.

A hamstring injury picked up during pre-season caused him to miss the first month of the campaign, while an ankle injury sustained at Arsenal kept him out for a further month during the busy festive period. That he only recovered to play 378 minutes in the league before missing six more games with a back problem summed up his injury woes.

Yet it’s worth remembering the circumstances under which Shaw has debuted this season. He played his first few matches in the autumn months when United’s injury crisis forced Louis van Gaal to field a different back line from game to game.

Even when there was a little bit of consistency in the lineup, United were so unconvincing going forward that it was hardly surprising Shaw struggled to provide an attacking threat, particularly as he lacked support in wide areas.

One thing that has remained constant during his injury-hit first season, however, is his defensive quality. He’s arguably been United’s most consistent defender and offers such solidity on the left-hand side that’s it’s refreshing to see a full-back who can defend first and attack second.

Against Chelsea, Shaw defended and attacked superbly in his best display this season. It was indicative of his bright showing that United lost their impetus going forward when he was replaced by Tyler Blackett late in the game.

For all the talk of a 19-year-old struggling to adapt following a move to a big club, it was a performance that illustrated how good he will be next season when injuries subside.


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