Luke Shaw has offered an emotional insight into his injury-plagued season, admitting that he blames himself and Manchester United’s medical department for the hamstring problems that have placed his participation at Euro 2024 in serious doubt. The 28-year-old left-back has not played since being forced off against Luton on 18 February and was a late addition to Gareth Southgate’s final 26-man squad.
Shaw revealed that he pushed himself too hard in a bid to be fit for the FA Cup final against Manchester City, which led to a further setback and left him “devastated”. He explained that mistakes were made after he initially felt something in his hamstring against Aston Villa in February. Despite not training all week, he was cleared to start against Luton, a decision he says was partly his fault and partly the medical staff’s. “If the manager asks me to play, I’m never going to say no. I shouldn’t have played,” he said.
The defender, the only natural left-back in England’s squad, has been hurt by accusations that he prioritised being fit for his country over United. But Shaw insisted the opposite was true: he pushed to return for United’s season finale and suffered a six-week hamstring injury three weeks before the cup final. “I think people have been confused… I did push to do everything I can to be fit for United,” he said.
England manager Gareth Southgate described Shaw as a “long shot” when naming his provisional squad last month. With the 28-year-old not yet back in full training, Southgate is expected to ask right-footed Kieran Trippier to fill in at left-back for the group opener against Serbia on 16 June. Shaw is optimistic about featuring later in the tournament but is taking it day by day: “Realistically I’ve only got one chance. If I feel something, then that’s it.”
