Luke’s fighting fit and set to show Mourinho

LUKE SHAW has opened up about being ‘fat shamed’ and claimed he is in the best possible shape to relaunch his Manchester United career.

Shaw’s perceived weight problems and poor conditioning have dogged him throughout his four-year United career following a £27m move from Southampton.

The left-back was pictured on holiday in Ibiza last month looking less than toned, sparking the latest debate over his conditioning.

But ahead of arguably the biggest season of his career Shaw, 23, has confronted his critics and vowed to prove his worth to United and boss Jose Mourinho.

“Of course people can say I’m fat, but I know my own body,” said

Shaw. “I always look big because

I’m bigger built and I’m sort of, you could say, a Wayne Rooney type of body.

“I guess you have just got to take it, because there’s always going to be negative criticism and positive, but both of them can make you stronger.

“The first season when I came I didn’t realise how big a step up it was.

“I was doing work but I didn’t realise I needed to push it a bit more.

“I’d been really fit the season before and didn’t think I needed to do that much.

“Obviously, when I got to United, there was definitely something that wasn’t right.”

After his summer break in Ibiza, Shaw underlined his new-found dedication by going on a boot camp in Dubai with United fitness and conditioning coach Gary Walker.

“I worked hard – and not just for the critics,” said Shaw. “I wanted to, for myself, get in the best shape – and that wasn’t my best shape.

“Now I’m working harder than ever. First game of the season, I want to look 10 times better than I did in that picture.”

Shaw has endured a difficult relationship with Mourinho, whose public criticism and often brutal treatment has led to accusations of bullying by the United boss. But Shaw insists he has his backing.

“I spoke with the manager a week after the holidays,” said Shaw. “He texted me and we had a good chat.

“It made me feel confident about the upcoming season.

“It would be easy for me to quit and say, ‘I want to go’. But I believe in myself and I believe I’ve got what it takes to be a Manchester United player.

“If the manager comes to me and says, ‘You’re not a player for Manchester United, you’re not a player for me’ then I’ll totally accept that and go find another place. But until he says that I’ll keep fighting.”

One of Shaw’s lowest points came last season against Brighton when he was subbed at half-time in an FA Cup tie.

“I was very upset but he only does stuff like that because he knows what I can do,” said Shaw.

“We’ve had this conversation. He said he knows I can be the best, but he sometimes feels frustrated that I’m not doing that.

“That’s why it pushes me on more. He says these things because he knows I can do it.

“It’s horrible at times, because people only see those things he says in public. That’s fine. I’m a grown man.

“But the stuff inside the training ground, no-one sees apart from me and it still gives me confidence.”