What a fall from grace.
When Luke Shaw signed for Manchester United for a fee of around £30 million, several pundits had suggested that he had what it would take to develop into one of the best left backs in the world.
But in over three years, Shaw has made a measly 32 Premier League appearances for the Red Devils and his stock continues to plummet.
Fitness woes have plagued his chances of making the left side of United’s back four his own but problems with his commitment and desire have also affected his ability to convince manager Jose Mourinho of his reliability.
Bit of a stretch https://t.co/EfGeSFk8Jv
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) October 13, 2017
Matteo Darmian was preferred to Shaw at left back this weekend while Ashley Young has regularly been used as a makeshift full back throughout the season, which just tells you exactly what you need to know in relation to the amount of trust that Mourinho has in the former Southampton man.
At 22, Shaw is in danger of letting his career turn into a case of ‘what might have been’ and, on Sunday, he lined out for United’s U23 side in their defeat to West Ham.
And while a player of his quality should have stood head and shoulders above everybody else on the pitch, Shaw flattered to deceive.
He looked unfit.
watched the u23 game this morning & I must say I was shocked with @LukeShaw23 performance today He looked like a player who was overweight unfit & didn't care walked around & didn't bust a gut to get back on defence So much talent such poor attitude Really disappointed with him
— Gee United (@gigounited) October 15, 2017
I think Luke Shaw still looks a bit overweight for someone that's supposed to a Premier League footballer
— Paul (@paulpmcg) October 15, 2017
@LukeShaw23 why is James corden playing in your kit?
— DK (@dannykhader) October 15, 2017
Disappointing result from the London Olympic Stadium:
WHU 4 – 2 #Mufc u23s.@LukeShaw23 played the 90 mins but is certainly not fully fit.— Peter Bolton 🇾🇪 (@PeterBolton3) October 15, 2017
He looked disinterested.
Time is up for Luke Shaw. Abysmal attitude, summed up here as he walks back while West Ham attack. Wasn't interested today at all pic.twitter.com/6NJIO71NVI
— Matt (@MattP260599) October 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/noncelona/status/919559726828048385
Luke Shaw played for the reserves today, in a poor defence he really was coasting by all accounts, should be busting a gut. Disappointing.
— Stuart (@Juckylim) October 15, 2017
And supporters reckoned that the exit door was next for the left back.
https://twitter.com/ScottCrossland7/status/919561305543053317
https://twitter.com/JT1878/status/919559749234057217
So, will Luke Shaw be gone in January or the summer? 🤔 #mufc
— Dominic Hastings (@ThisIsTheDom) October 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/EgonBola/status/919568762088640513
“He has to improve,” Mourinho recently said of Shaw.
“Look, he doesn’t play for six months. I am not expecting him to arrive on Wednesday and to be man of the match or to be running up and down for 45 minutes.
“It’s just a process. He doesn’t play for a long, long time.
“You have other players in the Premier League that in this moment who are not starting matches and their managers just say ‘they’re not in the best conditions’. And we’re speaking about some of the best players of the Premier League.”
