Revealed: Luke Shaw, 29, has misplaced almost four-and-a-half YEARS of his profession to harm as stats lay naked the Man United’s star’s nightmare on the sidelines

Luke Shaw has lost almost five years to injury since making his professional debut as a 16-year-old, a report has revealed. 

The news comes during a week in which the Manchester United defender confirmed that he had suffered ‘small setback’, having only just returned to full fitness following a nine-month absence for the Red Devils. 

Fans of the full-back were treated to a glimpse of his talents at Euro 2024, when Gareth Southgate opted to gamble on his recovery but the England boss could only field him in three matches – with two coming as a substitute – in Germany. 

According to a report from the BBC, Shaw has lost a staggering 1,675 days in 75 separate absences to injury since making his debut for Southampton more than a decade ago.

Sixty-one of those absences were due to injury, with the most serious coming in 2015 when a horrific double leg break not long after completing a £31.5million move to Old Trafford kept him on the sidelines for 305 days. 

Shaw has been unavailable due to illness on 14 occasions, while his most frequent injury has been to his hamstrings, which he has had issues with on 14 occasions.

Another notable spell away from the first team came on account of illness, including contracting Covid in March 2022, that kept him out for just over four months. 

Amazingly, the full back featured in more than 70 per cent of Manchester United’s Premier League fixtures between the 2018-19 and 2022-2023 seasons, the Red Devils most successful period in the post-Alex Ferguson era. 

But Shaw has appeared in only 27.5 per cent of United league matches since the start of last season. 

On Wednesday after suffering his first defeat as United boss Ruben Amorim pledged to give the 29-year-old as much time as he needs to recover, following news of his latest setback. 

‘What I can say since I arrived, I see him in the medical department working a lot in the gym,’ said Amorim. ‘Working a lot on the pitch, we control the load during the games, during the trainings, he was losing weight, so he was doing everything. 

‘If he continues to do that behaviour, he’s a top, top player and we need him. No matter how long he will need, I will be with him, we will help him to return, not just Manchester United but your national team needs a guy like Luke Shaw, so we are here to help him.’

Shaw took to social media a day earlier to reveal that he will be absent from first team duties due to another injury and he admitted that he is ‘absolutely devastated’. 

‘Hi guys, it’s hurting a lot having to write this as I really thought I had got through my recent struggles and was on a positive path going forward, but unfortunately I’ve had a small setback.

‘I’ve been through a lot and had a lot of ups and downs but this has definitely been my toughest period. I’m absolutely devastated and it’s extremely tough to come to terms with reality at this moment in time.

‘I understand there is gunna be people frustrated, angry, disappointed and I understand all that. There is no one feeling that more than me at this moment in time. But what I can promise is I will do everything I can to come back better soon to help this club achieve its ambitions this season.

‘Thank you to everyone for the support. It really doesn’t go unnoticed and I really do appreciate it.’

Red Devils boss Amorim did not put a timeframe on the full-back’s return to first-team duties. The defender, who came on as a substitute in each of the Portuguese’ first three matches, looks set to miss a host of key matches this month, including clashes against Manchester City and Tottenham.