Carrick says Man Utd left‑back Shaw missed training after failed hunt

Manchester United assistant manager Michael Carrick said the 31‑year‑old left‑back Luke Shaw missed Wednesday's training session because the club failed to bring in a new competitor during the summer window, leaving the only senior specialist without adequate cover ahead of their first Champions League tie.

Failed left‑back recruitment

United entered the transfer market eager to add competition for Shaw, targeting Newcastle's Lewis Hall, but the move fell through, leaving the squad with no senior left‑back signing.

Shaw featured in all 38 Premier League matches last season, and the club now faces a tougher schedule having returned to the Champions League, with Thursday's game against debutants Sabah followed by a Manchester City derby on Sunday.

Speaking at the pre‑match press conference, Carrick downplayed injury concerns, stating, "We just gave him an extra recovery day today. We'll see by tomorrow how he is, but it's not an ongoing thing or a plan or anything like that."

With academy graduate Harry Amass absent from the squad, Carrick listed Noussair Mazraoui, Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot as the most likely alternatives, while the return of Matthias de Ligt after back surgery adds depth to the defence.

For United, the situation underscores the need to rotate the defence and manage Shaw's workload across a congested calendar; for Shaw, it means a brief respite but also heightened scrutiny as the only senior left‑back.

Comments Sport Felix Keith Senior Sports Reporter Sep 16:08 View Images
Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty
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