Shaw proves perfect accomplice to give Southgate headache

Player provided another assist and impressive showing suggests Chilwell will have competition at left-back

Luke Shaw’s past three England starts have come across six years and his cross for Harry Kane in the World Cup qualifying victory over Albania meant that he has assisted a goal in every one of them.

It will have also given manager Gareth Southgate encouragement

Pinpoint: Harry Kane heads home the first goal from a cross by Luke Shaw (below), who shone in his first England start for three years that Shaw now appears fit, ready and willing to fight for an England place ahead of this summer’s European Championship.

Against Switzerland in 2015, Shaw set up Kane to open the scoring and three years later it was Marcus Rashford who the left-back assisted for in a defeat by Spain.

His third assist in three starts for his country came in the 38th minute against Albania yesterday, when Shaw swung over the perfect cross for Kane to attack with his head.

This was only Shaw’s ninth England cap, thanks in part to injuries and a difficult two-year spell under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, but the 25-year-old looks to have come through his experiences stronger. Shaw has also admitted

‘I’ve been watching the games and regretting not being able to take my chance’

that he had done himself no favours in the past by pulling out of England squads too easily, as he tried to get his club career on track.

Southgate had been unsure of the former Southampton academy graduate’s international ambition, but that no longer looks to be in doubt.

Shaw has been United’s standout player this season and Southgate will hope he now has two out-andout left-backs, the other being Ben Chilwell, who he can pin his faith on ahead of England’s big summer.

The position has been a strange one for Southgate, who recalled Ashley Young to go to the Russia World Cup as Danny Rose’s deputy and has recently played Kieran Trippier as a makeshift left-back.

Blessed with so many options on the right that Trent Alexanderarnold was left out of this latest squad, Southgate has been looking for real competition on the left.

Although the opposition were the worst team in world football, Chilwell impressed against San Marino and Shaw responded perfectly to the challenge laid down before him in Tirana.

It may not be good news for Alexander-arnold that Trippier, injuries permitting, should no longer be required to fill in on the left.

Clearly at ease with his club captain Harry Maguire next to him at the back, Shaw was comfortable receiving the ball and roaming forward at every opportunity.

Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling swapped positions regularly, but Shaw was equally capable of interchanging with either man, or Mason Mount, whom he collected a pass from before crossing for Kane.

Shaw had been anointed the natural successor to Ashley Cole long before he was necessarily ready and he travelled to the 2014 World Cup instead of the former Chelsea full-back as one of Roy Hodgson’s surprise selection decisions.

It was the horrendous leg break he suffered for United against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League that prevented Shaw going to Euro 2016 and Mourinho’s tough love contributed to him missing the last World Cup.

Displaying the maturity that has helped him so much at club level of late, Shaw has also conceded that, at times, he has been his own worst enemy when it comes to England.

Speaking to the United official website, Shaw said: “I made bad mistakes, pulling out of squads maybe at times when I shouldn’t have. That was down to me. I was going through bad times. There was in the back of my mind the thought that it was done.

“Gladly, Gareth’s given me another opportunity, so I’m just really happy and honoured to be selected again.”

Shaw did everything he could have to grasp his chance yesterday and Southgate now has a big call on his hands in terms of who he starts at leftback against Poland, England’s toughest game of these three qualifiers, at Wembley on Wednesday.

“The last two years, I’ve been watching the games and regretting not being able to take my chances when I had them. I am just so happy to be back,” said Shaw, following his comeback game in Albania. “Even if I’m not playing, being around the squad is still brilliant and, of course, I’d love to be in the Euros squad.”

Southgate has wanted a headache at left-back for some time and now he has one. Shaw’s next three starts may not yield three assists, but he will surely not take another six years to make them.