Shaw chance of redemption

> United’s attacking leftback set to be given one last chance to save his career

LUKE SHAW will be given one last chance to salvage his Manchester United career. The defender has endured a nightmare since joining United in a £30m deal from Southampton in 2014.

Shaw appeared to have the world at his feet back then as he became the most expensive teenager in British football.

His move to United was completed while he was at the World Cup in Brazil with the England squad and his parents celebrated with bottles of champagne in a hotel on Copacabana beach.

But it all went horribly flat for Shaw once the club season began as he went on to suffer a catalogue of injuries and a loss of confidence.

Former United boss Louis van Gaal criticised his fitness and made him train alone during United’s pre-season tour of America. He even handed the leftback a personal training schedule and ordered him to sort himself out once and for all.

But Shaw’s problems went from bad to worse just over 12 months later when he suffered an horrific double leg break in a Champions League game in the Netherlands.

He missed the rest of the campaign and struggled with niggling problems and illnesses last season. It led to Jose Mourinho criticising him on more than one occasion, and put his United future in serious doubt.

Mourinho questioned his attitude, positioning and basic understanding of the game and following a 1-1 draw at Everton in April claimed it had been “his body with my brain” that had allowed him to impress as a substitute.

Shaw’s absences have led to the likes of Matteo Darmian, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and even Ashley Young having to fill in at left-back.

But with Shaw now close to fitness after ankle ligament damage suffered in April, Mourinho is keeping his fingers crossed he can finally put his problems behind him.

Shaw has travelled to America for United’s preseason tour and has been training alone at the UCLA facilities in Los Angeles this week.

He is not expected to feature in any of the games on the trip – Manchester United kickoff their International Champions Cup campaign tomorrow against LA Galaxy – but has targeted the opening Premier League fixture against West Ham.

It is understood Mourinho has been impressed with Shaw’s approach to preseason and determination to take on board his demands.

Having decided not to cut his losses and sell Shaw to the highest bidder, Mourinho is willing to give him another chance to establish himself at Old Trafford.

Provided he can get healthy again, Shaw – who turns 22 next week – will be given a run of games at leftback, with Mourinho challenging him to become the superstar performer he was once tipped to become. –Express Newspapers