Resilience – a word that epitomises Luke Shaw.
Over the years, he has suffered constant scrutiny in the media whilst being marred by multiple hapless injury struggles. In order to reach the position that he is in right now being hailed as one of the best left backs in world football, Luke has overcome masses and certainly hasn’t shied away from challenges. Despite having been on the verge of losing his leg and suffering demoralising criticism for a period after his return, his endeavour hasn’t ever reduced in the slightest. After enduring doubt from many over time, he now has multiple club player of the year awards and a regular starting place to show for his persistence. Following years of hard work, he has recently silenced practically every one of his critics with a simply sensational European Championship campaign on the back of a standout season for United.
Let's roll back the clock to 15th September 2015: a Champions League night in the Netherlands. At the age of twenty, just over a year after signing from Southampton at only eighteen, Luke suffered the ultimate low. After a now trademark surging forward run, the impact of a challenge by PSV’s Hector Moreno left him with a career-threatening double leg fracture. As Luke later revealed, there was serious doubt over whether he’d keep his leg - let alone grace a football pitch ever again.
Giving up has never been in Luke’s DNA, though. Having spent almost a year on the sidelines (undoubtedly a mentally and physically taxing period), he defied the odds to return to the United side the following August after months upon months of rehab.
Despite overcoming the major injury, Luke still suffered from multiple niggles on his return after such a long period of absence. There was an unfairly constant showcase of negative media attention, catalysed by a wide variety of negative and belittling comments (not least from manager Jose Mourinho as Luke has recently revealed). The pressure of expectation exponentially grew as time progressed but Luke didn’t ever visibly crack, which is immense credit to his mental fortitude. Whilst particular figures continued to scrutinise, he admirably didn’t lose faith in his game.
The continued graft Luke put in was blatant, with his impact in the 18/19 season instant as he scored his maiden career goal against Leicester on the opening Friday night of the campaign. That evening at Old Trafford certainly kickstarted what was ultimately an excellent ‘revival’ season; a new contract with the club and a recall to the England side were immediate rewards. After departing on a stretcher after suffering a head injury on his England return in yet another unfortunate setback, he bounced back once more as has been the case throughout his still-young career. After the departure of Mourinho in late 2018, Luke continued to reach new heights with freedom and less of a burden under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He rightfully gained recognition for his efforts throughout the season from teammates and the fanbase alike, winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year and the Players’ Player of the Year awards.
He continued to become a pivotal force within the side after his stellar 2018/19 campaign, greatly pushed by Brandon Williams for large portions of the subsequent season which propelled him to yet another level. Competition can be the nemesis of many, but Luke excelled with help from his elite mentality. Proving his willingness in the face of competition, he continued to develop under the influence of Alex Telles’ arrival in the summer of 2020.
Luke's attacking game has become massively refined over the past season, with maintenance of a high defensive standard causing such great efficiency down the left hand side. His flawless intensity and work rate has contributed to making himself a definite mainstay within Ole's system. His goal in the win against City at the Etihad was surely the highlight within a club season of extreme individual highs, in which Luke once again earned his teammates' plaudits by being awarded Players' Player of the Year for a second time. Though, for the left back, the major reward will undoubtedly have been an England recall for the Euros.
The Euros, wow. Where do I start? From his first minutes against Scotland to the final kick of the final, Luke (or Shawberto Carlos as he became known) proved not only his doubters but the entire footballing world just how good he is. He amassed three assists during the tournament, only matched by a certain David Beckham for a single campaign in England’s Euros history. From left back, he was England’s most creatively influential player - and all but the best in that department out of all players in the tournament. Though the result didn’t go the way of the Three Lions in the penalty shootout against Italy, Luke joined an exclusive list of players by becoming only the third player to score in a major international final for England - a historical moment and surely a career highlight so far.
The multitude of setbacks Luke has suffered have only made him stronger. He has overcome some major obstacles over his spell at the club to become a vital and integral force in this United side (and for his country). For someone who was informed he may never play again, it’s remarkable to see how far he has progressed. In the face of adversity, the grind never halted. Luke Shaw, everybody.
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