‘He has a future here,’ Mourinho insists defender will have to work harder for a first-team spot

Shaw MUFC

Manchester United head coach Jose Mourinho has insisted that Luke Shaw still has a future at Old Trafford, although he will have to work his way into first-team contention.

The England international managed just 11 top-flight appearances during Mourinho’s first season in charge and he has yet to make his Premier League bow for the current campaign.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the Spurs game, Mourinho stressed that the 22-year-old can make his career at United, but he can not assure of a regular run in the crunch fixtures.

“He has a future here, but the situation is not easy because he comes from injury, after injury, after injury. He needs [lots of] matches in a row to play, to make mistakes, to get conditioned, to get match fitness and at this moment I can’t give him that,” he said h/t Sky Sports.

Shaw is presently behind the likes of Ashley Young, Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind for a position on the left side of the defence, and the manager added that the former Southampton graduate faces a difficult situation.

Mourinho added: “If he was a central midfield player, yes, because we have only two. But at left-back we have so many options that the situation is not easy. But he’s in the squad, he works and maybe the opportunity comes.”

Shaw only came on as an 87th-minute substitute in the 2-0 League Cup triumph over Swansea City in midweek, and this does not present much confidence from Mourinho, who has previously criticised the left-back’s attitude.

The youngster is currently contracted to Manchester United until the summer of 2019 – courtesy of his recent extension, and the next couple of months could be crucial to deciding whether he is in Mourinho’s long-term plans.




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