Luke Shaw opens up on nightmare Man Utd injury struggles - 'Couldn't have got any lower'

Luke Shawhas opened up on last season’s injury nightmare and described it as the lowest he has felt in his career. England defender Shaw has been beset by injuries since he joined Manchester United from Southampton for £27million in 2014.

But the 30-year-old revealed last season’s prolonged spells out, due to persistent injuries, pushed him to the brink mentally like never before, as he missed 48 of United’s 60 games.

“It's something I've not experienced to be honest,” said Shaw, speaking during United’s US tour. "I know I've had a lot of injuries, but it was more mentally how tough it was. It was really tough. I won't go too much into that. I think last season it was one to forget.

“It was horrible. It started with a calf and I've never had a calf injury in my life, so I was never used to that. Things just kept happening and it was really stressful, but I'm grateful that I'm here now and I feel fit.

“I feel real happiness right now. I don't want to keep banging on about last season, but I couldn't have got any lower last season.

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“So right now I feel really good, really happy with great people around me in the team and a really good manager. I can't feel any better, to be honest. I'm really happy and I'm really looking forward to this season. I've got big ambitions this season and I'm looking to fulfil them.”

After featuring for England at Euro 2024, where he started defeat in the final against Spain, Shaw missed pre-season with United and was ruled out until November.

He came on as a sub in Amorim’s first three games in charge, then suffered another injury setback which saw him sidelined from December to mid-April.

Shaw made his comeback towards the end of last season, but blamed himself for not being available, particularly in the final weeks of former boss Erik ten Hag’s time in charge.

“I kind of felt like I let Erik down with the injuries and stuff,” said Shaw. “I wasn't there for him towards the end, and that wasn't nice. Then, when the new manager comes in and we speak about different things, different aims for the rest of the season that we had, then I get injured again.

“For a lot of last season I just felt like I let a lot of people down in the club and the team, obviously because I was always injured. It was just something in my head where I found it really hard. I just put a lot of blame on myself.

“I just felt that I was letting the team down not being available for a long time. But the team and the manager were really good with me. Especially the manager, he stuck by me.”

Despite United’s embarrassing showing last season, Shaw is adamant they should set their sights high, rather than accepting mediocrity on the back of one miserable campaign. After last season, it might sound a bit ridiculous, but we want to be winning the Premier League,” said Shaw.

“We should have those ambitions. Not just me individually, but the whole team. We all have to have the same ambitions and all push for that. Like I said, it can sound ridiculous because last season was so bad.

“But we’re Manchester United and we need to be having those aims, otherwise there's no point in being here, you know? I think it's the biggest club in the world and it needs to have the biggest ambitions.”

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