Shaw in fight for future at United

AFTER MORE DROPPED POINTS IN ANOTHER OLD TRAFFORD STALEMATE, UNITED WILL HAVE TO PUT ALL THEIR EGGS IN THE EUROPA LEAGUE BASKET

LUKE Shaw’s United career looks to be in jeopardy after Jose Mourinho questioned the left-back’s commitment, focus and ambition in a frank assessment.

Shaw was dropped from the United squad for Saturday’s visit of West Brom despite numerous injuries and suspensions, as Mourinho promoted 20-year-old reserves midfielder Matthew Willock to the matchday 18.

Former Southampton fullback Shaw has played just twice for United in four months and it is understood Mourinho rebuked him for speaking to Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings, who stamped on Zlatan Ibrahimovic during their Old Trafford draw last month. Shaw’s attitude and training performances have also prevented him from more playing time.

The £27m signing participated in United players’ five-a-side session after the West Brom fixture but Mourinho said Shaw is a ‘long way behind’ United’s other leftback options.

When asked what Shaw had to do to return to the squad, Mourinho replied: “It’s difficult for him to be on the bench because I cannot compare him with Ashley Young, with Darmian, with Blind.

“I cannot compare the way he trains, the way he commits, the focus, the ambition. I cannot compare. He is a long way behind.”

When a journalist enquired whether more should be expected from an England international, Mourinho added: “Joe Hart is an English international and is playing on loan in Italy.”

JOSE Mourinho hinted this week that, if the time was right, he could switch his focus completely to the Europa League.

And after an 11th Premier League draw of the season, eight of which have been at Old Trafford, he may already be there.

He has made no secret of the fact that qualifying for the Champions League by winning the Europa League is more appealing because it comes with a trophy.

United have got domestic games against Everton and Sunderland before the competition restarts with a quarterfinal against Anderlecht. Mourinho could be forgiven for already looking ahead to the first leg in Belgium in two weeks’ time.

By the end of the 0-0 draw with West Brom, Mourinho looked like a man who had seen the same show too many times. And he has.

It is the draws – the missed chances – that have ensured United are battling for fourth instead of challenging Chelsea at the top.

It was perhaps predictable with United missing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Juan Mata, their two top goalscorers. The Reds have struggled to score enough goals even when they have been available.

Mourinho was without Ibrahimovic and Ander Herrera because of suspension while Mata and Paul Pogba were ruled out through injury.

The list of absentees, which also includes Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, deprived United of their two main goal threats. And, in the first half, they played like it.

Jesse Lingard blazed over the bar after nine minutes and Anthony Martial headed wide after half-an-hour. But that was it. United dominated, at least in terms of territory. But by the time Mike Dean blew for half-time, they had very little to show for it.

Martial ended the half with a bruised eye after a challenge with Craig Dawson. United, though, had not laid a glove on West Brom.

Tony Pulis’ side looked happy to wait for their chance from set pieces – they have scored 18 from corners and freekicks in the Premier League this season compared to 17 from open play.

United limited the visitors to three in the first 45 minutes, none of which troubled David de Gea.

For all United possession, Ben Foster had a quiet first half, too.

It wasn’t until the 66th minute that he had to do anything, rushing out to save from Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Marcus Rashford came closer with a curling effort from 25 yards but Foster was agile enough to tip it away. Still, with 70 minutes on the clock, United had just two shots on target.

Mourinho’s answer was to throw on Wayne Rooney for his first football in nearly a month. But not even the man who has scored more United goals than anyone else could find one.

Rashford almost did when Foster made a spectacular save from his freekick. But so too did Darren Fletcher, after De Gea palmed a shot onto the crossbar.

It’s starting to look like Europa League or bust.