Luke Shaw has not progressed as Phil Neville expected since joining Manchester United.
Phil Neville has suggested to Sky Sports The Debate show that Luke Shaw needs to leave Manchester United in order to fulfil his potential.
Neville’s recommendation helped persuade United to sign Shaw from Southampton as an 18-year-old, but the defender has not developed as anticipated at Old Trafford.
Fitness problems and form have restricted Shaw to 49 appearances in three and a half years with the Red Devils, and he is now fourth choice behind Ashley Young, Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian.
Former United defender Neville expected Shaw to be England’s first-choice left-back by now and feels that the player must take some responsibility for failing to ‘grasp his opportunity’.
“Look, he should be England’s left-back, 100 per cent,” Neville told Sky Sports’ The Debate show.
“I scouted him for United when I was coach there. At Southampton I thought, ‘He’s an England left-back’, he was one of the best young left-backs I’ve seen in a long time. Going forward he had absolutely everything.
“I just find it frustrating now that he’s not grasping the opportunity in front of him and fulfilling that potential. He needs to play football and I’m not sure that’s going to be at United.”
Tottenham Hotspur’s Danny Rose has established himself as England’s number-one left-back, having been voted into the PFA Team of the Year in successive seasons.
Rose has had his own injury problems so Shaw cannot use them as an excuse for his shortcomings. His success is a testament to his attitude and the coaching of Mauricio Pochettino.
As Sky Sports reports, there has been talk of a swap deal involving Rose and Shaw, but most Spurs fans would disagree with Neville over who is the better player.
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