Luke Shaw has become so important to Man United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cannot even afford to rest the left-back-cum-left-centre-back.
Luke Shaw was preparing for his first match in 96 days when it transpired Manchester United had shelved plans to sign a new left-back. That was solely down to the brilliant breakthrough from Brandon Williams, rather than Shaw, reeling from another prolonged absence through injury and still struggling to emerge from Ashley Young's shadow.
Young kept Shaw out of the side in 2017-18, earning a starting spot for England in their World Cup run and denying Shaw a squad berth. It was during that season that Young went into bat for Jose Mourinho after he hauled Shaw off at the pause of United's FA Cup quarter-final win over Brighton.
United players were shocked by Mourinho's treatment of Shaw that evening but not as much as when Young bluntly said Shaw 'has to get his head down and work' while on England duty days later.
Emboldened by the 10-year age gap between them, Young could be more curt in his private pep talks for Shaw. Young often drove his neighbour into Carrington while Shaw was rehabilitating from a double fracture of his right leg, and they were among the 'crutch crew' whom arrived early at Carrington for pre-season in 2017. Young and Shaw recovered at identical times yet it was the older full-back who became a regular under Mourinho's and Gareth Southgate.
Had Southgate crowbarred Shaw into his 2018 World Cup squad of 23 then the left-back might have moved elsewhere. Instead, he was on tour with United in the States and in bullish form when a few of us were huddled around him on an indoor balcony overlooking the Beverly Hills Montage hotel's opulent Marquesa ballroom.
The competition with Young was addressed. "It's not really a rivalry," Shaw said. "I get on really well with Ash. Since day one when I came in, I've been really close to Ash. I was very happy for him, especially the World Cup he had. Nah, no rivalry there. We're really good friends.
"When I play he's really happy and wants me to do well and vice-versa. It is a good competition because we both want to play. It only pushes us both on. In training it makes everyone try their best to get in the team. I love Ash and completely respect when he plays and when I play."
Young made an impersonal departure from Carrington, hiding in the back of a taxi on his last visit to the training ground when the players had a day off. The erstwhile dressing room DJ was well-liked but it was anathema to Young that some of the millennial teammates struggled with constructive criticism. Some staff at United feel Shaw has been mollycoddled by a protective family who are so supportive at least one relative is present at every United game.
The week after Young joined Inter Milan Shaw started the first of 11 consecutive games at Tranmere and his and United's form took off. Whether at left-back or left centre-back, he has enjoyed his best run of form since that searing start to 2015-16 that was brutally halted by Hector Moreno.
It is not a complete coincidence Shaw has reached new heights now Young is no longer bed-blocking him, though theirs was no longer a straight duel. Williams kept Shaw out of the side with Young gone in January and the teenager was preferred over Young for wobbles against Sheffield United and Aston Villa in November.
Shaw tested the patience of some supporters with his withdrawal from the squad against Norwich City in January through a warm-up injury and his sudden selection in a back three eight days later at Anfield spread dread. Shaw's previous appearance in a defensive trident against Barcelona was blemished by a decisive own goal and a yellow card, yet he fared respectably against Lionel Messi, Philippe Coutinho, and Luis Suarez, and then Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino.
Shaw is the only United player who started all 11 unbeaten games between January and March, a reflection not just of his improved form but durability. He played in 40 of the 53 fixtures last season, managing 15 starts in a run that was halted by domestic and European suspensions in April. That was largely forgotten following Shaw's infamous tracking back at Huddersfield.
Ryan Giggs was just 25 when he 'transferred' from the youngsters to the veterans in first-team training at Carrington. Shaw made his career debut at a younger age than Giggs and turns 25 in July, just after his sixth anniversary at United. With 14 other senior squad members aged under 25, Shaw has finally assumed his own seniority.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com