Manchester United's players applaud their fans after their 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town in November.
Luke Shaw (centre) is facing a vitally important period in his Manchester United career.
It has been more than a year since Luke Shaw's name was last listed as a starter on a Manchester United teamsheet.
He last started for the Reds when they beat Luton Town 2-1 at Kenilworth Road on February 18, 2024, and he has only made three substitute appearances since, amounting to a paltry 98 minutes.
It looked as though the worst of Shaw's injury struggles were over when he made the bench for Ruben Amorim's first game in charge against Ipswich Town at Portman Road on November 24. He stored 34 minutes under his belt and added to his tally in the subsequent wins over Bodo/Glimt and Everton.
However, on the eve of United's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on December 4, Shaw announced he had suffered yet another injury setback.
"Hi guys, it's hurting a lot having to write this as I really thought I had got through my recent struggles and was on a positive path going forward, but unfortunately I've had a small setback," he wrote on social media.
"I've been through a lot and had a lot of ups and downs but this has definitely been my toughest period. I'm absolutely devastated and it's extremely tough to come to terms with reality at this moment in time.
"I understand there is going to be people frustrated, angry, disappointed and I understand all that. There is no one feeling that more than me at this moment in time."
A footballer's career is relatively short, meaning any time they spend in the treatment room is going have a damaging impact. Unfortunately for Shaw, the Carrington treatment room has become his second home in the last 12 months.
But after encountering another setback after making a brief return to full training towards the end of January, he is, according to Amorim, "going to be ready soon".
Of course, Shaw's fitness levels will determine just how big a role he could play between now and the end of the season. The problem is that he can rarely stay fit, with his body seemingly very fragile as a result of a serious leg break he suffered several years ago.
The most frustrating element is that when he is fit, everybody knows just how good he can be. He was excellent when he stayed injury-free during the 2022/23 campaign, racking up 47 appearances to become a mainstay at left-back.
Former United manager Erik ten Hag got a consistent tune out of the England defender and was a huge fan of his, so much so he admitted last year that he considered him as "the best left-back in the world".
"Shaw is the best left-back in the world, he is so good," Ten Hag declared. "But he had a very serious injury at the beginning of his career. As a result, he will never be able to play 60 games in a year."
Shaw has failed to get into double figures for appearances this season but there is still time for him to change that. United's transition to a 3-4-2-1 system under Amorim means there is scope for the 29-year-old to operate as either a left-sided centre-back or left wing-back.
Patrick Dorgu has established himself as United's first-choice left-sided wing-back and has quickly settled into life at Old Trafford, providing the athleticism and running power United needed from a player operating in that position. Shaw is neither as quick or as athletic as the Dane, meaning his route into the team as a starter could be as a left-sided centre-back.
A lot of United supporters, mindful of Shaw's injury record, will be pushing for him to be sold this summer. However, no club is going to sign a player that has so far played just three times this season for the sort of transfer fee United will be after.
The only way United could realistically offload Shaw, who is under contract until 2027, is via a loan. But if he gets minutes under his belt and ends this season both strongly and injury-free, he could have one last chance to resurrect his United career and play his way into Thomas Tuchel's plans for next year's World Cup.
Next summer's showpiece event will already be on the minds of players and Shaw will be no different. But with his injury record likely to put suitors off, his only hope of resurrecting his England career may be via resurrecting his United career.
This, however, could be his very last chance.