Club legend Denis Irwin says Luke Shaw can emulate his longevity as Manchester United’s left-back.
Irwin was a model of consistency as he played 529 times for United between 1990 and 2002, even being singled out by Sir Alex Ferguson as his greatest ever signing.
After signing in 2006, Patrice Evra was the club’s next long-term left-back before his departure for Juventus in the summer. Southampton’s Shaw, joining for a fee in the region of £30 million (Dh176.4m), was the man recruited to replace him, but the 19-year-old has made a sticky start to life at Old Trafford.
Criticised by manager Louis van Gaal for being overweight, a hamstring injury also delayed his debut.
But Irwin, who won 14 major honours at Old Trafford, including seven Premier Leagues and the Champions League, says patience is all that is required.
“He’s a top-quality player,” said the Irishman, while attending the launch of MUTV with STC at GITEX technology week in Dubai.
“Remember he’s only young so he will make mistakes but he’s only going to get better and quicker.
“Working under an experienced manager like Louis van Gaal, he will be a fixture in the Manchester United side for a long, long time and I’m sure he will be a regular in the England side too when he gets his chance.
"Obviously he was a lot of money but that’s not his fault. We have got a history at Manchester United that left-backs stay there for many years.
“Arthur Albiston before me, then Patrice Evra was there for nine years so I have no doubt that Luke will emulate this tradition.”
However, it is another of Van Gaal’s summer recruits who has caught Irwin’s eye so far.
Argentine Angel Di Maria has scored three goals and provided as many assists in a blistering start to life in English football following his record move from Real Madrid.
And Irwin said: “Di Maria has been the best signing without a doubt. He reminds me of Giggsy in a way. The way he is so direct with his dribbling and attacks.
“His decision making is fantastic and that is the big part of being a top-class player.”
Meanwhile, Irwin’s former United and Ireland team-mate Roy Keane has been in the headlines lately with his falling out with ex-United boss Ferguson laid bare in his new autobiography.
Keane is currently assistant to Paul Lambert at Aston Villa and Martin O’Neill with the Irish national team and, while Irwin has no plans to delve into the pages of his book, he does feel Keane still has a bright future as a manager.
“Don’t get me wrong, he will always be opinionated,” said Irwin. “He has been a manager twice before and I have no doubt he will be a manager again.
“He will have learnt an awful lot from Paul Lambert and Martin O’Neill and this experience will certainly make him a better manager in the future.”
