Long-term Utd absentee returns to individual training with hopes of playing first match in 8 months

Erik ten Hag is now facing the challenge of managing his squad with the possibility that Luke Shaw may struggle to play consecutive games, according to Stretty News.

The Manchester United left-back has been absent since February, when he last appeared in a 2-1 victory over Luton Town.

Shaw was substituted at halftime which was the second consecutive match where he was taken off due to fitness issues.

Following that match, the club confirmed that Shaw would be sidelined for an extended period due to a muscle injury, keeping him out for the remainder of the season.

In total, he missed 37 games across all competitions. This situation frustrated fans even further when Shaw was called up for England’s Euro 2024 squad, only to miss the early stages of the tournament.

However, he later featured in the quarterfinals and semifinals before playing the full 90 minutes of England’s final loss to Spain.

Soon after returning to Manchester United for preseason, Shaw suffered another setback, ruling him out for the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign.

With the Premier League eight weeks in, Ten Hag has leaned heavily on Diogo Dalot to cover the left-back position.

The versatile Victor Lindelof has also filled in, with Lisandro Martinez providing additional support in the defense during Manchester United’s match against Brentford.

There is some optimism for Shaw's return, as he has recently been seen training individually on the pitch, separate from the main squad.

The England international's progress hints at a possible return in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Tyrell Malacia, who missed the entire 2023/24 season, remains unavailable, leaving questions about when he will rejoin the squad.