Man Utd defender Luke Shaw has been a key player this season and could be playing his way back into the England squad.
Luke Shaw has been important this season.(Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
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Ruben Amorim wants Luke Shaw to play himself back into the England squad, but he would not mind if the defender was overlooked if it means he stays fully fit for Manchester United.
Shaw has started every Premier League game this season and has remained injury-free.
The 30-year-old seemed to pick up a knock against Brighton, but Amorim later confirmed he was substituted during the second half because he had been suffering from a virus in the days leading up to the game.
Shaw struggled against Manchester City in the Manchester derby, but his performances have otherwise been strong and he could earn a recall to the England squad later this month.
Gareth Southgate included Shaw in his England squad for Euro 2024. The defender has not received a call-up since that tournament, but his form could be rewarded by Thomas Tuchel.
Amorim spoke at his pre-match press conference on Thursday and was asked whether he believed Shaw deserved a recall to England's squad. "It's hard, it's hard here, it's hard in Portugal," he said.
"I have the same questions about the players, it's really hard to choose the players. People point a finger at you if you are the national manager, if you choose this one or the other one.
"And England has a lot of good players, and you can choose two teams to win a World Cup, I know it's tough for you guys, it's harder than Portugal, but it's an opinion."
Amorim sympathised with the international selection process, adding: "It's the way you play, it's the way you see the opponents you have. In the next two games, it will change what kind of player you want to call up. So I think he deserves it, but also a lot of players deserve to be back.
"For me, I want him to go to the national team, but I also want Luke Shaw to train with me, recover with me, and be prepared for my game, so I'm a little bit selfish on that, so if he's not going to the national team, for me it's fine, because I can control better what he's doing."
Tuchel explained his decision to overlook Shaw during the October international break, saying: “It was a very close call. I just want him to have a little bit more minutes. He looks very fit.
"He looks very determined. I think he has the quality, the experience to play and to make us better straight away. But I want to keep him back a little bit, when he has more rhythm than he has right now."
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