United triggered the one-year option in Shaw’s contract in the summer but that was designed to prevent him going on a free at the end of the season – when his four-year deal was due to end – rather than a reward for his performances.
Shaw, 22, has been desperately unlucky with injuries since moving to Old Trafford from Southampton in a £28m deal in the summer of 2014.
Out of 179 games in all competitions Manchester United have played since his transfer, Shaw has started only 43 – with five more appearances coming from the bench.
Poor reward for the huge outlay on his fee – he was the most expensive teenager in British transfer history – and wages.
In fairness, Shaw did miss virtually all of the 2015-16 season after a sickening leg break in a Champions League game against PSV Eindhoven.
He appeared to have made a successful comeback from that injury at the start of last season and won a recall to the England squad but has been dogged by fitness and form issues ever since amid question marks over his attitude. United and Mourinho have been patient but that will not last forever.
And Shaw will be well aware that Mourinho has been linked with a number of let backs – including Tottenham’s Danny Rose, Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon, Bayern Munich’s David Alaba and Espanyol’s Aaron Martin.
Shaw is on the way back from his latest problem – ankle ligament damage suffered in April – and has played a number of times for the under 23 team, although his performance in the latest outing at West Ham at the weekend did not impress many fans who watched the game on the club’s Tv channel.
After his solitary first team appearance this season, as a half-time sub in the Carabao Cup tie against Burton Albion, Mourinho made it clear he was not happy with Shaw’s condition and insisted the defender had to work “hard, hard, hard” on the training ground before he could be considered for regular first team duty again.
Former United player Rio Ferdinand expressed the view recently that Mourinho is testing Shaw’s mental toughness.
Mourinho has no doubts about his ability. He said earlier this year that he had the potential to become United’s long-term left back – but needed more application, mental focus and determination to nail the position down.
Shaw responded to that criticism in the right way, insisting he wanted to prove Mourinho wrong and show he could have a future at United.
He got back in the side, was playing well before his injury curse struck again when he damaged ankle ligaments against Swansea at the end of April and was ruled out of the Europa League final. It completed a triple set of disappointments – because he also missed the FA Cup final in 2016 and the League Cup final in February.
Shaw will have been lifted by Mourinho’s decision to include him in his squad for tomorrow’s champions League game against Benfica. Whether he starts, comes off the bench or is just along for the ride remains to be seen however.
Left back is the position Mourinho knows he needs to strengthen as a matter of priority if Shaw can’t regain the form and fitness that made him one of England’s brightest young talents at Southampton.
He has used Daley Blind there but the Dutchman is happier in centre defence or midfield and lacks pace. Marcos Rojo is out injured and, like Blind, is more comfortable as a central defender. And Matteo Darmian is a right back and, while he can ‘do a job’ on the left, he never looks entirely comfortable and lacks quality going forward.
Shaw knows the position could be his if he can stay fit and focussed – but the clock is ticking on his United career.
