Manchester United star Luke Shaw is reportedly on an individual training regime this week while his teammates have been given time off.
The majority of the United squad are on international duty, but according to The Daily Mail, of those that have remained behind, Shaw has continued to train alone on his own personal schedule while others have been given time off by Jose Mourinho.
According to the report, the England international is doing work with the physio, in the pool and a running programme while teammate Chris Smalling is said to be keeping him company at Carrington as he recovers from a foot problem.
On one hand, it’s arguably a positive sign for United fans to see Shaw working hard to regain full fitness and to reach peak condition during the break to return stronger than before.
However, coupled with the criticism that he received from Mourinho at the weekend after he was left out of the squad to face Swansea City, it could be interpreted negatively in the media.
“There is a difference between the brave, who want to play at any cost, and the ones for whom a little pain can make a difference,” Mourinho said on Sunday, as noted by the Mail.
It’s also important to add context to the situation as Shaw is said to have been feeling pain in the leg that he broke last year and so perhaps there is strength to his argument to want to sit out and avoid any further setbacks.
However, it seemingly didn’t impress Mourinho too much at the time although the Mail go on to state that he’s desperate for both Shaw and Smalling to prove their fitness ahead of the visit of Arsenal on November 19 with United looking to now build on that impressive win over the Swans last time out.