Manchester United’s new left-back Luke Shaw has been told he’s not fit enough to train with the squad by manager Louis van Gaal.
Shaw is the most expensive teenager in British football history at £27million but has not impressed at training during the club’s pre-season tour of America.
The player recently joined United from Southampton after a good league campaign in which he also broke into the England team.
“Luke needs to be fit and he’s not very fit and can’t perform how I want. He needs to be fit and to train individually,” Van Gaal told a post-training press conference.
“I can’t judge why. I see what I see. I have spoken with him and we have made a programme with him.
“How long (will he be on the training programme)? That we have to see, but that I don’t know.”
After England were knocked out of the World Cup, Shaw jetted to Marbella to put his feet up in the sun.
Marbella with my bro @rkeatch10 #selfie ☀️☀️☀️ http://t.co/bAh5rK6A77
— Luke Shaw (@LukeShaw3) July 1, 2014
Shaw may have put his feet up or joined in with the party vibe on the island a bit too much however during his week away.
Oioi
— Luke Shaw (@LukeShaw3) July 2, 2014
Only yesterday, United legend Denis Irwin was full of praise for the young player in an interview on the club’s website.
“It’s going to be really interesting to see how Luke Shaw progresses. He’s only 18 or 19 but he’s had two seasons in the first team at Southampton and he looks a really top player.
“Luke knows what he wants to do, particularly going forward, he really does bomb on. And he’s a strong and powerful boy; you could see that when he broke into the Southampton team.”
Shaw featured in the three-times European champions’ 3-2 win over Roma a few days ago, coming on after half time.
After the game Van Gaal was critical of his side’s performance during the victory.
“I am pleased that we have won but it was not a good performance,” said the Dutchman.
“54,000 people came to watch us but we can perform much better.”
Shaw will now need to knuckle down and get back into shape to make a claim for a first team spot this season.
Main image courtesy of GiveMeSport via YouTube, with thanks.
