Rio Ferdinand names key Man Utd star who ‘couldn’t grumble’ if he was sold

Rio Ferdinand believes Luke Shaw could not complain if Manchester United chose to replace him next season, citing the left-back’s poor injury record last term.

Shaw was one of several United players to miss a large chunk of a testing campaign, with Erik ten Hag often forced to chop and change his defensive line to deal with an injury-ravaged squad.

Two severe muscle injuries meant the left-back made just 12 Premier League appearances last season, with Diogo Dalot, Sofyan Amrabat and even Antony filling in at points to cover in his absence.

Ferdinand thinks a call will have to be made on Shaw’s long-term fitness over the summer and said he will have to accept being replaced as the club plot a defensive rebuild.

‘They’ve got to get a fit Shaw and Lisandro Martinez next season and games out of them both,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

‘I don’t think Shaw could be disgruntled if United said because of his lack of game time over the last course of your time here, we’re going to find another left back.

‘I don’t think he could grumble at that. But I think he’s that good when he plays that they will go again [with him].’

Shaw will have a chance to make his case to remain United’s first-choice left-back after he was named in England’s 26-man squad for Euro 2024.

The 28-year-old has returned to training with the rest of the squad but is expected to miss England’s opener against Serbia on Sunday.

However, as the only natural left-back available Southgate admitted he was willing to take the risk and include him in the squad.

‘It’s a calculated risk,’ he said. ‘He’s progressed really well in the last couple of weeks,’ he said in a press conference last week.

‘Positionally, with what he brings with his experience, the fact that he’s a left-footer who can drive forward that’s a situation we wanted to explore.’

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