Man Utd confirm injury setback for key defender

Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw has suffered a setback in his bid to return from a calf injury.

Shaw has not played for United in over eight months, having gone down with a muscle injury in February which brought his 2023/24 season to a close, although he did make a surprise return in the late stages of England's Euro 2024 campaign this summer.

A calf injury has prevented Shaw from returning to the pitch with United this season, despite a series of optimistic updates suggesting the left-back would be back in full swing by now, but it has now emerged that Shaw has suffered a series of setbacks which has delayed his return.

"The process is not going as we expected," former boss Erik ten Hag told his final press conference, which was recorded before his departure but released after. "That's the truth.

"If there's a setback? If you want to call it like this, yes. We also want to do it very carefully, because when he is dropping again, we have made the wrong process. We want to be very careful. We know his past, we have to do this right because we want him to be available because he will have a big impact on our performances and our levels.

"We can't have it that he is playing for some games and then dropping out again, so we do it carefully."

Left-back has been a problem area for United, with Tyrell Malacia also sidelined with his own issue since the start of last season. The Dutchman is closing in on a return but will not be rushed back into action after so long on the sidelines.

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