Jose Mourinho might not have got exactly what he wanted in the transfer market this summer, but Luke Shaw’s blistering start to the season has been as good as a new addition for unconvincing Manchester United.
Shaw has endured several frustrating years since arriving at Old Trafford from Southampton in the summer of 2014. It seems amazing that four years have passed since he was brought in for £30 million – with much expected of the then hugely talented teenager.
Things haven’t exactly gone to plan in the intervening time – with a horrendous broken leg suffered at the start of his second season in a Champions League game against PSV derailing fine progress in his debut campaign.
Weight and fitness issues, as well as his questionable off the field lifestyle, have stunted his progress ever since, with Shaw often attracting the ire of Mourinho during the Portuguese’s two seasons in charge.
But, the 23-year-old has started the 2018/19 campaign in scintillating style – delivering performances full of zest and tenacity at a time when United have been flawed and flimsy.
He has been the bright spark in an otherwise torturous start to the Red Devils’ campaign and he was again excellent as United relieved the pressure on Mourinho with a comfortable 2-0 win at Burnley on Sunday, despite finishing the game with 10 men following Marcus Rashford’s red card.
Here we take a closer look at Shaw’s start to the campaign and cast a magnifying glass over just how good he has been in these early weeks.
FORM FOR UNITED
Goals: 1 – 3rd
Minutes played: 360 – joint 1st
Shots (per game): 2 – 5th
Pass accuracy: 83.3 – 13th
Aerials won: 1.8 – 7th
Tackles: 1.8 – 4th
Interceptions: 1.5 – 8th
Clearances: 3.5 – 5th
Dribbled past: 0.3
Blocks: 0.3 – 5th
Key passes: 1.3 – 6th
Dribbles: 1.5 – 2nd
Dispossessed: 1
Unskilled touches: 0.8
Average passes: 56.8 – 4th
Crosses: 0.5 – 5th
PREMIER LEAGUE POSITION
Tackles – 80th
Key passes – 57th
Dribbles – 32nd
Dispossessed – 92nd
Unskilled touches – 143rd
Average passes – 34th
Touches 344 – 12th (leads United)
Pretty impressive, huh? But after several seasons spent in the wilderness at Old Trafford, foraging for both form and confidence, how does Shaw compare to the elite at his position?
For a comparison, we’re saying Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson is the Premier League’s best left-back overall. And here is how Shaw stands up to the Scot:
FULL STATS
Appearances 4 4
Goals 1 0
Assists 0 2
Shots 8 1
On target 4 0
Chances created 0 3
Passes 227 257
Pass completion 83.26 87.16
Passes forward 77 66
Passes backwards 38 46
Touches 344 326
Crosses 9 8
Dispossessed 4 2
Blocks 1 0
Interceptions 6 4
Tackles 7 12
Tackles won 2 10
Clearances 14 3
Aerials won 7 1