'Well done, Lukey' How Shaw has matured during his time at United

WHEN the spiral started at United last season Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw were culpable so often they seemed conjoined.

- SAMUEL LUCKHURST

Privately, Shaw felt he was exposed amid his willingness to cover for Maguire a confidant advised Shaw to be more selfish.

There is scant evidence of selfishness throughout Shaw's eight years with United. He has regained form this season, arguably his best two terms on from his stellar 2020-21 campaign.

For context, that was played out almost entirely with the turnstiles locked and umpteen results were as misleading as United's second-place finish. This season, with the adrenaline whirring at packed grounds, Shaw has improved and overcome the setback of a summer signing dislodging him.

Shaw's approach is unrecognisable from the teenager United invested £31million in back in 2014.

He was not a month into his United career when Louis van Gaal publicly admonished Shaw for lacking the required fitness and it got tougher under Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho might have smiled at Shaw's progress at Bournemouth. Shortly after pinging the ball into the top corner during the warm-up, Shaw returned to the dressing room while his team-mates continued their preparations.

It was only when Erik ten Hag suddenly emerged from the tunnel, strode onto the sun-kissed turf, stopped to press the flesh of the and officials made a beeline for Tyrell Malacia that become apparit ent the teamsheets have might be to updated.