Is Luke Shaw Good Enough To Be Manchester United’s Long-Term Left Back?

Manchester United’s £30 million signing of Luke Shaw in the summer of 2014 represented an investment in one of English soccer’s most promising young talents. At that time, Shaw was seen as a future superstar of the game, certainly England’s next great left back after the era of Ashley Cole. Old Trafford was to be his platform to continue his development.

That development stalled over a number of years, though, as injuries robbed Shaw of so much. It didn’t just cost the full back time, as he spent the majority of two whole seasons on the sidelines, but some of his physical attributes too. The lightning pace that surely drew United to Shaw in the first half disappeared, as did the player’s fearlessness and confidence.

This season has been about rehabilitation for Shaw, not just in a physical sense, but in the sense of his career as a whole. The 24-year-old has enjoyed the longest prolonged run of games of his Manchester United career to date, avoiding injury for a full season for the first time at the club. That must be a source of satisfaction for the defender.

And yet despite Shaw turning in a number of impressive displays, there remains a sense United will have to find an upgrade at left back to truly challenge for titles and major honours again. While Shaw has been solid enough, while his injury troubles appear to be behind him for the time being, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might be forced to enter the market to find a replacement.

Never before have full backs been as important in soccer as they are now. Look at how Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have made the position such a focus of their great Liverpool and Manchester City teams. Players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker are among the most influential in the Premier League
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The role of the full back has changed over the decade. While they were once seen as defenders first and foremost, now they are primarily viewed as auxiliary attackers. This is where Shaw falls down. Compare his statistics to that of Andy Robertson’s, the left back for this season’s Premier League title winners, and the United man’s flaws become obvious. 

Robertson has registered eight assists in 29 league appearances this season. Shaw, on the other hand, has failed to notch a single assist in 20 league appearances. At a time when teams at the top are expected to have multi-dimensional full backs, Shaw just doesn’t have the necessary tools to take Manchester United where they want to go.

Solskjaer might have started Shaw in each of United’s last 14 games, but he is surely aware of his favoured left back’s limitations. Brandon Williams has broken into the senior squad at Old Trafford this summer, but the 19-year-old is still role and is still learning the role as a right-footer. If Chelsea and Manchester City are targeting new left backs this summer, the Red Devils should be too.

Shaw has been a safe pair of hands for United this season. While many of his defensive teammates ate Old Trafford are prone to the odd blunder, the 24-year-old very rarely makes a mistake. But is that enough for a club that wants to clamber its way back to the top of the English and European game?

The timing might seem somewhat peculiar given Shaw is performing at his highest and most sustained level since arriving from Southampton six years ago, but Manchester United’s need for a new left back has never been clearer. It might be now, after so many years of perseverance, that they have to give up on Shaw.