Luke Shaw was absent from Manchester United's training session on Wednesday ahead of their Champions League clash with Sabah FK.
Manchester United Training Session
Luke Shaw missed Manchester United training on Wednesday (Image: Getty)
Michael Carrick has suggested that Luke Shaw could be involved in Manchester United's Champions League fixture against Sabah FK despite his absence from today's training session. Shaw was granted an additional day for recovery purposes following United's draw against Everton on Sunday, but Carrick was keen to stress the England international is not experiencing any persistent fitness concerns.
"We just gave him an extra recovery day today," Carrick explained. "We will see by tomorrow how he is but it is not an ongoing thing or plan or anything like that off the back of the game the other day. As normal, each individual has different things we are managing and Luke is one of them today." Shaw, 31, had been heavily involved in United's contest at Everton, providing the assist for Benjamin Sesko's late header that appeared to have earned United all three points.
However, Ainsley Maitland-Niles struck a long-range equaliser in the 95th minute to deny United victory. Shaw was substituted in the 91st minute, with right-back Diogo Dalot also making way for centre-back Leny Yoro in the latter stages at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The decision to withdraw defenders was later questioned by former United captain Gary Neville.
Carrick's decision to rest Shaw comes ahead of a demanding schedule, with United set to host Manchester City on Sunday. City have the benefit of two extra recovery days, having beaten Porto on Tuesday night, meaning United will need to manage their squad carefully in the coming days.
United's options at left-back are notably thin. Shaw remains the club's only senior specialist in the position, with 19-year-old Harry Amass the sole dedicated back-up.
Amass has not featured for United since May 2025, having spent last season on loan at Championship clubs Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich City, and has not played since sustaining a hamstring injury at Norwich in January.
Noussair Mazraoui can also fill in at left-back, though he was unwittingly involved in Maitland-Niles' equaliser at Everton after replacing Shaw.
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Manchester United Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1
Michael Carrick speaks at a press conference to preview Man Utd vs Sabah (Image: Getty)
United's lack of depth at left-back is a concern that dates back to the summer transfer window, when the club failed to secure a left-back signing. They received short shrift from Newcastle in their pursuit of Lewis Hall, and were offered Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly via intermediaries but ultimately baulked at his asking price, reported to be in excess of £50million.
Carrick also provided an update on Sesko's fitness, with the striker having missed the start of the campaign due to a shin injury sustained at the end of last season.
"He's close to starting," Carrick said. "He missed a lot, but we've had to manage him and get him fit. He scored a fantastic goal. He did an awful lot for us last season, and he's in a good place. It's just a case of when he takes that next step."
Marcus Rashford was back in training on Wednesday following his early substitution against Everton, however Matthijs de Ligt was nowhere to be seen, along with fellow absentees Amad and Manuel Ugarte.
De Ligt has been sidelined since late November and, having undergone back surgery in May, United are taking a cautious approach to his recovery.
"It's positive. Matta has trained really well," said Carrick. "I think when you're out for such a long period of time and you get right to the final stages and you push and you push, you've got to manage that last stage. It's important.
"We've got to get that balance right for when to take the next step. But he's on a good track, he's in a good place, and it's great to have him back around us, and hopefully it'll be sometime soon."