Man United welcome Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon for their third game of the season.
After Erik ten Hag was appointed Manchester United manager in April last year, few would have anticipated a left-back being his first signing.
He was exceptional in the 2-1 win over the Merseysiders, marking the beginning of a run of five consecutive Premier League starts. It was only after he was terrorised by Phil Foden in the first half of the 6-3 defeat to Manchester City in October that he lost his place and Shaw came back into the side.Shaw, from that moment onwards, dominated the left-back spot for the majority of the season.
He has suffered a muscular problem and it remains to be seen when he could next be available. United, just hours before confirming that Shaw faces a spell on the sidelines, announced that Brandon Williams had left the club on loan, joining Ipswich Town for the season. He was the second left-back to depart this summer, following the exit of Alex Telles to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr last month.
Granted, Fernandez, in the event of both Shaw and Malacia being fit, would be third in the pecking order, meaning another loan spell elsewhere would have been in his best interests to help maintain his development. He deserves regular opportunities after the success of last season's stint at Deepdale.
But when other youngsters have appeared to be in pole position to pick up the baton from a senior star sidelined through injury or unavailable because of suspension, Ten Hag has overlooked them, instead calling on a senior figure to operate out of their comfort zone. Diogo Dalot is likely to start at left-back against Nottingham Forest this afternoon in Shaw's absence.
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