Shaw left out again as Mourinho names Europa squad

Matt Stead

Luke Shaw has been left out of Manchester United’s squad for the Europa League clash at St Etienne, raising more questions about the left-back’s Old Trafford future.

The 21-year-old has been overlooked for the squad heading to France for the last-32 second leg, with captain Wayne Rooney and Matteo Darmian also missing from the 20-man group despite training on Tuesday morning.

Rooney suggested on social media that Tuesday was his first session since injury and Darmian played at Blackburn on Sunday, yet Shaw has made just one appearance since November 30.

The left-back, having overcome niggling issues on the comeback from a horrific double leg break, has been fit since mid-January but only appeared in the FA Cup fourth-round win against Wigan.

Left out of United’s subsequent four squads, Shaw returned to the bench at Blackburn in Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie. He did not play however, and was named one of our five losers.

“Why has Luke Shaw stayed behind in Manchester? Because I am playing with Daley Blind, with Marcos Rojo, with Matteo Darmian and all of them are playing the way I like a full-back to play,” explained Mourinho.

“Luke has to wait for his chance. He has to work better and better knowing that I give nothing for free.

“When I give something to the players it’s expensive for them, it’s not cheap it is expensive they have to work really hard every day. They have to play well, so he has to wait.

“In this moment he is behind the others.”

 

Phil Jones misses the match through injury and Ander Herrera serves a one-match suspension.

Squad: De Gea, O’Hara, Romero, Bailly, Blind, Fosu-Mensah, Rojo, Smalling, Valencia, Young, Carrick, Fellaini, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Pogba, Lingard, Schweinsteiger, Ibrahimovic, Martial, Rashford.