Mourinho explains Shaw absence, discusses his future

Matt Stead

Jose Mourinho insists that he is not looking to force Luke Shaw out of Manchester United.

Shaw began the season as first-choice left-back at United, starting each of the club’s first five Premier League games.

However, he has not featured in the league since October, and has played just 14 games in all competitions this season.

Many believe that Mourinho is attempting to force the 21-year-old out of the club, but the manager insists he is simply looking out for a player who missed the better part of a year after suffering a broken leg in September 2015.

“What I think is that he had a very ugly injury, really ugly, that affects players not only from the physical point but also the mental impact,” said the Portuguese.

“‘He has had a couple of small injuries this season and needs to adapt. He knows what I like in a defender, he knows that I like stability, that I don’t like mistakes, that for me it is to trust a player totally and he has to work to get it.

“And when he is on the pitch again he has to try to give me that step by step because he is still only a young player. Sometimes people forget he is only a young player with a lot to learn but I like the player and I like the boy.

“He will be here for sure. It (leaving) is out of the question.”