Manchester United’s left-back, Luke Shaw, has been written up as one of the players to miss the club’s Champions League match against Sabah due to not training on Wednesday. United start their European campaign on Thursday in Azerbaijan against Sabah with Shaw expected to miss today’s game as the manager will be left without a specialist senior option at left-back.
A report in The Sun says Shaw was not part of United’s training on September 9. The session was booked as a recovery day, so there isn’t any indication that he will be absent from Thursday’s game.
But if there was any problem with Shaw, it would immediately be a choice for Carrick. For the time being, the England international is the only player of note at senior level in the left-half position for United, who failed to find a senior left-half in the summer transfer window. Tyrell Malacia also left the club as a free agent. Lewis Hall from Chelsea and Myles Lewis-Skelly from Arsenal were reportedly being sought by United in the summer, but neither of the two came to fruition.
United have also found themselves in need of experienced cover with their youth system. Young defender Harry Amass has not been fit for the senior squad since May 2025 and was on loan at Norwich City from December to January last season.
So Shaw’s availability will be monitored carefully in advance of the United return to the Champions League. Carrick will want to prevent any more disruption in a place that’s already thin.
Having finished third in the Premier League last season, United return to play in the top club competition in Europe after missing out on the 2010-2011 season. Their first game against Sabah will be an opportunity for Carrick to start well, while Shaw’s position may play a role in the decision on what players are used to defend.
