Luke Shaw to Miss Champions League Opener for Manchester United

Luke Shaw is expected to sit out Manchester United’s Champions League opener against Sabah on Thursday, sharpening the focus on a position the club failed to reinforce in the summer.

The 31-year-old skipped United’s final session on Wednesday morning, which was designated as a recovery and rest day for the squad. With Manchester City due at Old Trafford on Sunday – and enjoying a two-day advantage in preparation after their win over Porto on Tuesday – Michael Carrick now faces a delicate balancing act with his defensive options.

Shaw was withdrawn in the 91st minute of Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Everton with United leading 2-1, only for Ainsley Maitland-Niles to strike a dramatic equaliser in the 95th minute. Carrick’s late reshuffle at the back, which also saw right back Diogo Dalot replaced by centre back Leny Yoro in the closing stages at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, drew criticism from former United captain Gary Neville.

The changes did little to steady United. Noussair Mazraoui, who is also capable of filling in at left back, came on for Shaw and inadvertently diverted the ball into Maitland-Niles’ path for Everton’s late leveller, underlining the fragility of United’s current full-back situation.

That fragility is rooted in the summer. United pushed for a left back and were rebuffed by Newcastle in their interest in Lewis Hall. A move for Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly was also explored, but United walked away when the asking price rose beyond £50million.

The result is a squad with Shaw as the only senior specialist left back. Behind him, 19-year-old Harry Amass is the lone natural understudy. Amass has not featured for United since May 2025, having spent last season on loan in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich City. His campaign was cut short by a hamstring injury at Norwich in January, and he has not played since.

Now, with Sabah arriving in Europe and City looming at the weekend, United must navigate a pivotal week with a patched-up plan at left back – exactly the scenario the club hoped to avoid when the window opened.