Luke Shaw: United baffled by defender’s omission from England squad

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·2 Desember 2025

Luke Shaw: United baffled by defender’s omission from England squad

Luke Shaw has enjoyed a resurgent spell with Manchester United this season, starting every Premier League game so far. The English left-back has operated as a left centre-back in head coach Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system this campaign, covering for Lisandro Martinez, who only recently returned from an ACL injury.

In the Argentine’s absence, Shaw has made the position his own, despite previously operating mostly as a left-back for the Red Devils. However, it has not been enough for him to earn a place in England manager Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the recent international games.

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A historic record under threat

The only United player currently in the Three Lions squad is Marcus Rashford, who is on loan at Barcelona and is expected to leave the Theatre of Dreams in 2026.

The Red Devils have always had a representative in the England squad at the FIFA World Cup since 1958, but that record could end this year, with Harry Maguire, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo also not in the mix right now.

United baffled by Shaw’s omission

According to The Sun, United coaches are surprised by Shaw’s omission from the national team squad. The left-back position remains a problematic position for Thomas Tuchel, who has deployed Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly there in recent matches.

The 20 year old is expected to start in the position at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, although Tuchel also has Dan Burn and Djed Spence competing for the role. However, United sources are convinced that Shaw should also be in contention for the position, despite having operated exclusively in the left centre-back role this season.

People at the club reportedly believe that the 30 year old is having a good season. Shaw’s last-ditch defending was vital for United in the 2-1 win over Crystal Palace at the weekend, which marked his 300th game for the club.

Luke Shaw Premier League Stats: 2025/26 Season

Source: Premier League Website.

Final Thoughts

Shaw’s position in the starting XI will surely come under threat following Lisandro Martinez’s return to full fitness. The Argentine replaced the Englishman for the final eight minutes against Crystal Palace but is the ideal choice for the position when fully fit.

However, that could see Shaw pushed into the left-sided wing-back role, particularly as Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot have struggled in the position this season.

The Englishman, meanwhile, has the attributes to flourish further up the pitch, where his eye for a pass and crossing ability could be put to good use. It could also boost his chances of securing a place in Tuchel’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.