Man Utd have been handed an injury boost ahead of their trip to face Everton in the Premier League this weekend.
Man Utd have been handed an injury boost ahead of their trip to face Everton in the Premier League this weekend. The absence of Luke Shaw can't be underestimated as a contributing factor in Manchester United's poor start to the new season.
Even though performances have been poor in the first few months of the campaign, Erik ten Hag has every right to be frustrated by his unlucky injury situation.
It hasn't always been relevant; Casemiro and Raphael Varane have both underperformed even when fit, but Shaw is a unique talent in the United side and the unsung hero of their relative success last season.
Shaw has been absent with a 'muscle injury' since the 2-0 defeat against Tottenham in mid-August, but he trained with the main group at Carrington this week and he's set to be available for selection again.
His return to the team could help bring the consistency and balance that have been missing thus far and, in turn, build momentum for a surge up the Premier League table.
Shaw's primary role once he returns will be at left-back, where he has reached a world-class peak in recent years. He remains one of the very best in his position, not only for his sheer defensive ability but also for his qualities as an attacking threat.
In his absence, United have been targeted a lot down the left flank, whether it has been Diogo Dalot, Sergio Reguilon or Victor Lindelof asked to fill in for him amid their ongoing injury crisis.
With the England international back in training ahead of the trip to face Everton this weekend, it might not be long before we see a return of a world-class partnership that was so brilliant for United last season.
Marcus Rashford has been poor this season, though it is important to point out that his poor form has come during a period in which he hasn't had regular support from an overlapping left-back, as he did so often last season.
For all their inconsistencies, the left flank partnership of Shaw and Rashford was a reliable output for United, with the duo well versed in one another's tendencies and traits.
Rashford has not only been without the support of his literal wingman Shaw this season but has also played without back-up options Tyrell Malacia or Reguilon for much of it too.
In the absence of regular support from left-back, Rashford has often felt the need to go it alone, leading to tunnel vision at times and poor decision-making when he gets into the final third.
Rashford, of course, has to take a lot of the blame for his own shortfalls this season, but the return of his partner on the left could help bring out the best in him and take his game back to where it was last year.
It is well known that the forward loves to run at defenders and cut inside onto his dominant right foot, something that Shaw is often able to facilitate thanks to his runs out wide that drag opponents out of position and create space to exploit.
United fans might have to wait a little longer yet, though. Shaw has only just returned to training after three months out, so Ten Hag will need to be careful about how he manages his return to the team.
Shaw will be itching to get back onto the pitch as soon as possible, though with a must-win away match against Galatasaray next week, they won't want to risk throwing him back too soon.
Rashford will be suspended for that trip to Turkey, so the first opportunity to see the partnership back in action from the start could well be the trip to Newcastle next week.
Even if it takes another week, the return of Shaw could be well worth the wait.