Luke Shaw has delivered a lengthy injury update with his hopes of making England’s final Euro 2024 squad in the balance – and hit out at his critics this season.
The left back has been sidelined since suffering a fitness setback against Luton in February and faces a race against time to feature for his country this summer.
Shaw also missed a sizeable chunk earlier in the season due to a muscle issue and made just 12 Premier League appearances in total under Erik ten Hag.
However, he was still named in the Three Lions’ preliminary squad despite being forced to watch United’s shock FA Cup triumph at Wembley from the stands.
Taking to social media two days after the 2-1 victory against Manchester City, Shaw provided an update on his condition and took a swipe at his doubters.
‘Happy for the boys to lift the trophy at the weekend and finish this season on a positive,’ he wrote in a statement on Instagram.
‘As much as it was the result I wanted it was hard to watch from the stands.
‘This has been the most frustrating season for me. I have had setback after setback and have worked so hard to get back to fitness but things just haven’t gone my way.
‘I pushed so hard to get back before the end of the season and the final but some things just aren’t meant to be.
‘There’s nothing I want to do more than play and win with Manchester United.
‘I don’t react to things I see on social media but there are a lot of people questioning my loyalty to this club and asking how I am fit for England but not United.
‘The reality is I am not 100 per cent fit for either right now but I am doing everything I can and constantly working to be. I have been at this club for 10 years through highs and lows and for anyone to question my loyalty is obviously frustrating.
‘I appreciate I haven’t updated you all with my injuries and where I’m at with my recovery but equally the most important thing to me is that we’re supporting the team playing.
‘My biggest focus right now is being fit and then whatever happens this summer I will be ready. Thank you for your patience.’
Gareth Southgate will trim his England squad down to 26 players after friendlies against Iceland and Bosnia and Herzegovina next month.
He had admitted, however, that selecting Shaw was a ‘long shot’.
