Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has hinted at a major concern ahead of the Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday.
The Red Devils will host Man City at Old Trafford and will be desperate to retain the bragging rights after securing a 2-0 victory earlier this year.
Carrick has revealed that there are fitness concerns around Luke Shaw, who missed the UEFA Champions League encounter with Sabah on Thursday evening.
The head coach said: “We’ll have to see. We looked after him a little bit going into tonight.
“He wasn’t quite ready for it, 100 per cent, so we didn’t risk it. But we’ll see how he is over the next couple of days or so.”
Carrick will hope that Luke Shaw recovers fully
The 31-year-old missed training ahead of the Champions League encounter, although Carrick had remained confident that he would recover in time for the European clash.
Shaw’s absence forced the United head coach to play Patrick Dorgu at left-back.
Dorgu made an attacking impact by registering an assist, but he was repeatedly exposed defensively by the visitors.
Manchester City possess a formidable attacking threat, with Antoine Semenyo expected to operate on their right flank.
Carrick will desperately hope Shaw can regain full match fitness, with the England international offering the defensive nous needed to contain a dangerous player like Semenyo.
The latest fitness concern could perhaps have been avoided had INEOS secured a new left-back during the summer transfer window.
The Red Devils were heavily linked with Lewis Hall, but ultimately failed to strengthen the position.
Given his injury record, it is unrealistic that Shaw will cross four competitions and the onus will be on Carrick to find solutions.
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