United's Shaw dealt injury blow

adamhigginsuk
Aug 13, 2014
2 min read

Regular starter: Shaw only missed three Premier League games for Southampton last season (Picture from Zimbio.com)

MANCHESTER United defender Luke Shaw is set to miss the first month of the season through injury, the club have confirmed.

The England full-back, 19, has sustained a hamstring problem in training and, according to United's website, "is likely to be sidelined for around four weeks".

It means the £27 million summer signing from Southampton, who did not play in Tuesday's friendly win over Valencia, will have to wait for his competitive debut.

Following the departures of Patrice Evra and Alexander Buttner, United boss Louis van Gaal currently has no recognised left-sided defenders available for Saturday's Premier League opener against Swansea.

United have been heavily linked with a £15.9 million move for Sporting Lisbon's Argentina full-back Marcos Rojo but a deal is unlikely before the match against the Swans at Old Trafford on 16 August.

Shaw, who made one appearance for England at the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, was criticised by van Gaal last month for his apparent lack of fitness and was made to train alone by following a special programme.

The teenager looks set to miss four Premier League matches as well as the Three Lions' opening Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland.

Shaw, who signed a four-year contract with United in June, is one of three arrivals for the Red Devils in the close season after Spanish midfielder Ander Herrera and Serbian youth goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic.

Meanwhile, Shaw will wear the number three shirt after the club revealed the squad numbers for the upcoming season.