Peter Schmeichel has launched a brutal attack on Luke Shaw after the Manchester United left-back got injured once again, leaving him facing another spell on the sidelines.
The England international’s latest setback will see him miss the first three matches of the new Premier League season, including the curtain raiser at home against Fulham tonight, after he picked up a knock after returning from the Euros.
Shaw, who made just 12 starts in the top flight last season and missed the majority of Euro 2024 with his country, picked up a calf injury at the start of pre-season training with United.
The Red Devils shared an update on the 29-year-old’s condition on Tuesday, stating that they hope for the full-back to be available for selection after the first international break of the season.
And United legend Schmeichel was less than impressed to hear the news that one of Erik Ten Hag’s star men had been ruled out of a string of crucial matches.
Peter Schmeichel has launched a brutal attack on Luke Shaw after the Manchester United left-back got injured once again
Manchester United have confirmed that Luke Shaw (left) will miss the first three games of the Premier League season
Erik ten Hag (pictured) has now been dealt another defensive injury after £59million signing Leny Yoro was ruled out for three months
He vented his frustration on BBC Radio 5 Live, saying: ‘Luke Shaw last played (for Man Utd) in February and yet he still went to the Euros.
‘I think he played a little bit in the quarter-final, and then some of the semi-final and then he played the final.
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‘Now, he’s injured again. He’s so important. He’s got experience and he’s a top class left back.
‘He’s a Manchester United player – we pay him.
‘He should be focusing and prioritising Manchester United and not his country.’
Ten Hag and Co will have to play a crunch fixture against rivals Liverpool without Shaw and, with Tyrell Malacia a longer-term absentee, the manager will likely be forced to field a makeshift defence in the first few matches of the campaign.
During the Community Shield penalty shootout defeat by rivals Manchester City on Saturday, Lisandro Martinez played at left back with Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans in the middle.
New £59million signing Leny Yoro has already been ruled out for three months after having surgery on a broken foot, while new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui face a race against time to be ready for United’s opening game against Fulham on Friday.
Elsewhere on the pitch, striker Rasmus Hojlund will miss the start of the season with a hamstring injury, while new signing Joshua Zirkzee is also struggling for fitness.
Shaw will be absent for United’s crunch game against rivals Liverpool in matchweek three
In a glittering career with the Red Devils, Schmeichel won five Premier League titles
The Red Devils do, however, have an abundance of options available in forward areas, including the likes of Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho.
Schmeichel played 388 times for United between 1991 and 1999, overseeing an era of dominance for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side from between the goalposts.
In a glittering career with the Red Devils, the goalkeeper won five Premier League titles, three FA Cups, a League Cup, and a famous Champions League victory in 1999 to seal an unprecedented treble.