Erik ten Hag admitted that he was unable to give too much away regarding the fitness of Luke Shaw after the Manchester United defender limped off early in Tuesday’s win over Brentford at Old Trafford. The 27-year-old lasted just 36 minutes in his first game since penning a new and improved contract with the Red Devils after picking up a knock and was swiftly replaced by Tyrell Malacia at the back.
It marked an unfortunate early end to Shaw’s landmark 250th appearance for United as he limped off the pitch while clutching his hamstring, just a day after committing his long-term future to the club he joined from Southampton back in 2014. Ten Hag was pressed for an update on the defender’s condition after the full-time whistle against Brentford but insisted that he was unable to provide any specific details until the injury has been fully assessed by United’s medical team.
“In this moment I can’t give anything about it,” the Dutchman told MUTV. “We have to wait 24 hours to make the right diagnosis.”
Shaw’s injury was the only real sour note for United against Brentford, with the Red Devils moving back into the Premier League’s top four with a narrow but important victory at Old Trafford. Marcus Rashford’s first-half strike proved to be the difference for the hosts in a game which they dominated and Ten Hag was left impressed with the match-winning performance of United’s talisman at the top of the pitch.
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“He is [full of confidence],” explained the United boss when asked for an insight into Rashford’s current mentality. “But he has to be ready to get in those positions, therefore he needs energy and focus and he has to bring it every game.”
United will now be looking to follow up their latest triumph with a string of crucial victories in the Premier League as they look to beat the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool to a top-four finish at the end of the campaign. They had only picked up one point from a possible nine ahead of Tuesday’s match and will be desperate to maintain their newly-found momentum by putting Everton to the sword on Saturday afternoon.
A tricky Europa League quarter-final tie against Sevilla will follow for United five days later, with Ten Hag and his players also hoping to add to their recent Carabao Cup win by claiming additional silverware before the season draws to a close.
“We can do it,” said Ten Hag while discussing whether United can keep winning games over the coming weeks. “We can bring this performance and now we have to also bring it in the away games. We have to work on our character and personality to do it.”
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