Man Utd handed key injury boost as defender returns to training
- Defender Luke Shaw is back in training having not played since August
- Man Utd have struggled with an injury crisis in 2023/24 so far, especially in defence
- Shaw made 47 appearances in all competitions during the 2022/23 campaign
England international Luke Shaw has returned to Manchester United training in a major boost for manager Erik ten Hag.
The Red Devils have been hamstrung by injuries at left-back during the 2023/24 season so far, with Shaw and back-up option Tyrell Malacia both serving periods of enforced absence in the opening months of the campaign.
The duo's combined truancy has left Ten Hag scrambling for alternatives, with the likes of Sofyan Amrabat, Diogo Dalot and Victor Lindelof filling in on the left of defence.
However, Shaw's return to first-team training from what was only disclosed as a muscle injury has been captured by club photographers ahead of United's clash with Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Three Lions defender featured in just two Premier League games before being sidelined - the opening 1-0 victory against Wolves and the 2-0 loss to Tottenham - having made 47 appearances in all competitions in 2022/23, his joint-highest tally for a single season in his senior career.
Summer loan arrival Sergio Reguilon has filled in at left-back but also struggled with his own fitness issues, while a number of other important first-team squad members are facing races against time to be fit for the Premier League's resumption.
Rasmus Hojlund and Christian Eriksen both dropped out of Denmark duty ahead of the November international break, while goalkeeper Andre Onana took a blow to his pelvis. Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro aren't expected to play in the remainder of the year, while Jadon Sancho's Old Trafford exile continues.
Four wins in their last five league games have helped United rise up to sixth, five points off fourth-place Tottenham ahead of fixtures against Everton, Newcastle and Chelsea. Ten Hag and his squad also face a crucial trip to Galatasaray in the Champions League, where anything less than a win would throw their European campaign into severe jeopardy.
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