Soccer-Shaw return could provide missing link for England

Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - England Training - Blankenhain, Germany - June 27, 2024 England's Luke Shaw during training REUTERS/John Sibley

By Lori Ewing

BLANKENHAIN, Germany (Reuters) -Gareth Southgate's gamble of naming Luke Shaw in his England Euro 2024 squad could soon pay off with the left back expected to play his first game in more than four months.

England face Slovakia in the round of 16 on Sunday in Gelsenkirchen and while the 28-year-old defender will not start, he could provide a boost off the bench to a team unbalanced without a natural left-footer in his position.

"We'll have a chat with the medical team to see whether he can play a part or whether he could do with a little bit more training first," Southgate told reporters on Saturday.

The England manager defended his selection of Shaw, calling the decision "a calculated risk".

Defence has unexpectedly been the most positive part of England's play in Germany, where they conceded only one goal in the group stage.

It is more on the attacking side where Shaw's absence has been felt. While boasting some of the world's best attackers, England mustered only two goals in three games and were 20th in goal attempts.

Kieran Trippier, who started all three matches at left back, is right-footed while Shaw is an attacking defender who loves to make overlapping runs like the team's right back Kyle Walker.

England's two goals by Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane were assisted by Bukayo Saka and Walker on the right.

Shaw was solid in England's 2020 European Championship run, scoring an early goal in the team's loss to Italy in a penalty shootout in the final.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag described Shaw as the best left back in the world" last month, while acknowledging injuries had plagued the player's career since he suffered a double leg break in 2015.

He was also sidelined for several weeks in 2022 when he underwent surgery to remove bolts from the leg.

Hampered by a hamstring injury last season, he played only 15 Premier League games, the second lowest total in his 10-year stay at Old Trafford.

"This guy is so good. But he has suffered a horrible injury at the start of his career and because of this he will never be able to play 60 games per season," Ten Hag said.

Shaw's last game was in February against Luton Town.

"If the manager asks me to play, I'm never going to say no. But I shouldn't have played (at Luton)," Shaw said. "It's kind of everyone's fault. Partly my fault, partly the (United) medical staff.

"I came back too quickly and I actually ended up getting another injury in my hamstring."

If England beat Slovakia, they will play Switzerland in the quarter-finals.

(Reporting by Lori Ewing; editing by Clare Fallon and Ed Osmond)