'We pay him' - Luke Shaw should prioritise Manchester United over England, says Peter Schmeichel
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Updated 16/08/2024 at 11:25 GMT+1
Manchester United's legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has questioned the value of Luke Shaw featuring in three matches for England at the European Championship, despite not playing for his club since February. The left-back has been ruled out of the start of the Premier League season with a calf injury. United boss Erik ten Hag confirmed the 29-year-old would "return in the short term".
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Peter Schmeichel says Luke Shaw should prioritise Manchester United over England as the left-back is set to start the new Premier League season from the sidelines.
United manager Erik ten Hag confirmed that Shaw would “return in the short-term” but would not be fit to face Fulham on Friday.
The 29-year-old defender has not featured for United since aggravating a hamstring injury against Luton Town on February 18 last season.
But with a calf issue keeping Shaw from United’s 2024-25 curtain-raiser, Schmeichel questioned the logic of the left-back playing three times for England at Euro 2024.
“The one thing I have to say that really gets me and which annoys me as a Manchester United fan is that Luke Shaw did not play at all since February [for United] and yet he still went to the Euros," Schmeichel said on BBC 5 Live.
“Now he’s injured again. He’s so important because he’s got experience, and he’s a really top-class left-back.
“And he’s a Manchester United player – we pay him. He should be focusing and prioritising Manchester United and not his country.
“If you’re fit, you’ve been playing and all that, and you go to the Euros, fine, no problem. But he wasn’t.
“I understand you want to play for your country, and I understand the country wants him to play. But we’re also having the discussion about how much are we actually using the players.”
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In June, Shaw admitted that he should not have played against Luton in February, saying that it was “everyone’s fault”.
"If the manager asks me to play, I'm never going to say 'no'. But I shouldn't have played [at Luton],” said Shaw ahead of England’s first Euro 2024 group match against Serbia.
"It's kind of everyone's fault. Partly my fault, partly the [United] medical staff.
"I came back too quickly and I actually ended up getting another injury in my hamstring. I did push to do everything I can to be fit for United."
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In his pre-match press conference, Ten Hag announced that new defensive signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui will be in the squad to face Fulham at Old Trafford.
But the Dutchman also conceded that his side are “not ready” and that United “can’t force” bringing Shaw back into the fold too soon.
"He [Shaw] will return in the short term. It doesn't take long," said Ten Hag.
"We are looking forward, of course, for Luke Shaw. He is a very important player for our team so we want to get him back as soon as possible but we can't force this process.
"We are not 100%, but we have to go from game-to-game to improve and to get higher performance levels in the team and in individual players. We will see how quick we can go with this process."
After United's opener against Fulham, Saturday's Premier League action kicks off with Ipswich Town v Liverpool, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Ipswich Town v Liverpool will be live on TNT Sports 1 with coverage from 11:00 UK time on Saturday, August 17 ahead of kick-off at 12:30.
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Watch the 2024/25 Premier League season on TNT Sports and discovery+
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