Manchester United: Amorim should not let Luke Shaw play as left-back because it will increase the risk of players getting injured

On November 23, the British media "Manchester Evening News" wrote an article stating that Amorim should not let Luke Shaw play as left-back because it would increase the risk of players getting injured.

The full text is as follows:

No one would believe this at the beginning of the season, but Luke Shaw is now among Manchester United's best players this season. Putting aside Manchester City's defeat, which featured a lackluster performance from the entire team, Luke Shaw has been a reliable option under Amorim.

In recent years, Luke Shaw's stability has been lacking. In the 2024/25 season, he missed 294 days due to three injuries. He missed 239 days the previous season, raising questions about his ability to stay healthy and contribute to the team.

However, Luke Shaw's recovery in the 2025/26 season is amazing. He started every Premier League game for Manchester United and settled into the left center back position in a back three during Lisandro's absence.

None of this could have been predicted at the end of last season, but the medical team and Luke Shaw deserve credit for being able to do this. However, it could all come undone if Amorim adopts the idea he put forward in his pre-match press conference when asked if Luke Shaw could play at left-wing-back.

Amorim said at the time: "Luke Shaw can play as a left-back, but of course, the load on a player in that position is a little different from the position you play every day."

"He is more suitable for that position, of course he can also play that position, he is a smart player, and is currently in good physical condition, so I think he is an option." To a certain extent, you can also understand why Amorim would come to this conclusion.

Of course, Luke Shaw is a full-back, but he has been plagued by injuries since he last played on the wing. He had to adapt his playing style and he excelled in the less physically demanding position of left centre-back.

Amorim personally said at the press conference that the load borne by the wing-back players is much greater than what he currently bears, which will put Luke Shaw's body under extreme pressure and increase the chance of injury.

Even if Manchester United are convinced that Luke Shaw has overcome all the problems in the past, now is not the right time to give him a try at wing-back. Manchester United is about to enter the most intensive schedule of the season. If Luke Shaw plays as a full-back, it is tantamount to asking for trouble.