This season has been one of Luke Shaw’s best as a Manchester United player. The English full-back has put constant injury problems behind him and has been a mainstay in the Reds’ team.
No player has made more appearances than Shaw, who has featured 26 times across competitions. Any doubts about his future have been dispelled by his availability.
Shaw has long earned admiration from United fans who realise how talented he is when fit and flourishing. There might not be a better left-back in the Premier League when he’s at his best.
‘Shawberto’
New signings often wax lyrical about Bruno Fernandes’ playmaking or Kobbie Mainoo’s dribbling abilities. It’s not often that Shaw gets his flowers for his overall game, including his ability on the ball.
Joshua Zirkzee has admitted he has been surprised by Shaw after seeing him play regularly this season. The Dutch attacker even compared him to Real Madrid icon Roberto Carlos when speaking to the club’s media team:
“Maybe Luke [Shaw]. Obviously he had so many injuries last season like I really didn’t play with him or see him day in day out, I knew he was good, but then I saw him everyday and I was like the Shawberto and stuff you know what I mean, it’s true.”
Shaw is often seen racing forward with the ball and picking out his man with a wicked cross. He might only have one assist to his name this season, but he has proven to be an excellent crosser, including from set-pieces.
Carlos was one of the greatest full-backs in history and possessed a lethal left foot. He was more potent than Shaw, but there are similarities between the pair.
The legendary Brazilian starred during his time at Madrid, posting 69 goals and 117 assists in 527 games. It’s high praise from Zirkzee and speaks volumes about Shaw’s reputation in the dressing room.
Shaw bounced back
Keeping Shaw fit has been the main issue throughout his United career and the reason some fans have grown impatient with the Englishman. The Reds have failed to find a suitable backup to the 30-year-old, and that has proven problematic.
Now one of the Red Devils’ longest-serving players, he is at a stage of his career when he needs to help his side enter a new era. He was one of many members of the first team called out for the disastrous 2024-25 campaign.
Shaw was put on blast after the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Even an honest post-match interview from the former Southampton man didn’t go down well with supporters.
The England international admitted the players needed to look at themselves in the mirror and realise what it meant to play for United. His comments didn’t align with his decision to play at Euro 2024 despite spending the 2023-24 campaign mostly on the sidelines.
Shaw has lived up to that assessment this season with consistency and desire. He even excelled as a left-sided centre-back in Ruben Amorim’s back three.
