Gary Neville has criticised Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag’s handling of Luke Shaw, saying his involvement in the game was “really poor” and ultimately forced him to sit out the next five months.
Shaw is currently in Germany with England’s Euro 2024 squad but has sat out the Three Lions’ first four games as he recovers from a hamstring problem.
His absence has been a real problem for Gareth Southgate, who has deployed right-back Kieran Trippier on the left with little success.
Southgate is even considering a surprise change to the formation ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final against Switzerland, which would allow England to play without a starting left-back.
Shaw has not played for club or country since aggravating a hamstring injury in Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Luton Town in mid-February.
He had to withdraw with a hamstring problem the previous week against Aston Villa but was asked by Ten Hag to play against Luton, something he admitted he regrets agreeing to.
Neville believes it was “really poor” of Ten Hag to risk Shaw against Luton and says his absence is being felt in England, just as it was at Manchester United in the second half of the season.
“That left side has been blocked,” he told ITV. “When Phil Foden comes on, the biggest problem is that we don’t have a natural left-back who can play outside him.
“The same thing happened to Manchester United all season with Marcus Rashford. Luke Shaw is a very important player for United and Rashford. We miss him a lot (at the Euros).
“I couldn’t believe he was playing in that game. He should never have played in that game.
“I was travelling to Luton that day thinking I was out. I had to leave and you were wondering: ‘What’s going on there? ‘ The situation was really bad.”
Given that Shaw has yet to feature in the Euros, it would be a surprise if he featured in Saturday’s crucial quarter-final against Switzerland.
Last month, Shaw, who scored in the Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy, admitted he regretted agreeing to play against Luton in February.
“I felt something against Aston Villa and went off at half-time at Villa Park,” Shaw said. “It’s everyone’s fault. Partly my fault, partly the medical staff’s fault, I think everyone would admit that.
“I didn’t train all week. The scan came back and there weren’t too many signs. But I didn’t train all week, then I trained the day before the game. If the coach asks me to play, I’ll never say no. I shouldn’t have played.”
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