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Manchester United news: Luke Shaw's Euro 2016 hopes all but over, admits Louis van Gaal as he rules out defender

Shaw is set to return to training after suffering a broken leg last September but Van Gaal says he is unlikely to play again this season

Jack de Menezes

Saturday 02 April 2016 15:32 BST

Manchester United left back Luke Shaw (Getty Images)

Luke Shaw looks set to miss Euro 2016 after his Manchester United manager, Louis van Gaal, confirmed that the injured left-back admitted he is unlikely to play again this season despite returning to training next week.

Shaw suffered a double leg fracture in September during United’s Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven, but he initially targeted a return to action before the end of the season in a bid to try and feature in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for this summer’s European Championship.

Hodgson has left the door open for injured players such as Shaw and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere to prove their fitness ahead of the tournament, but while Van Gaal revealed that Shaw will take a significant step towards a comeback on Monday when he returns to training, he is unlikely to play again this season.

“Luke Shaw next week shall start his first training sessions on the pitch,” Van Gaal said in a press conference ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Everton. “He has been in the pool, in the gym on the treadmill but now he can train with his body on the pitch, but Luke knows it will be very difficult to play the final of the FA Cup.”

United can still reach the FA Cup final on 21 May if they defeat West Ham in a sixth round replay and Everton in a Wembley final, but Van Gaal’s suggestion that the match will come too soon for Shaw is a desperate blow to his hope of featuring in France, given Hodgson will name his squad on 13 May – much earlier than the 31 May deadline.

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

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1/11England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Tom Heaton - goalkeeper - 0 caps

The Burnley goalkeeper has emerged as third choice goalkeeper now Jack Butland is out of the reckoning. It's incredibly unlikely he'll be called upon in France - however if England were needing to look to their third choice wouldn't a stopper who has featured for England before and been playing in the Premier League be a better choice? Ben Foster fits that bill.

2016 Getty Images

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Luke Shaw - left-back - 6 caps

The £30m signing is set to return to action following his broken leg just before the season is over. But the possibility of a relapse and lack of game time make the Manchester United player too big a risk.

2016 Manchester United FC

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Phil Jones - centre-back - 20 caps

With 20 caps for England, Jones has long been considered among the regular contenders. However he's been edged out at Manchester United and deserves to be edged out from the England set-up too.

Getty

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Calum Chambers - centre-back - 3 caps

After joining Arsenal it seemed as though Chambers might turn out to be the next Tony Adams and in late 2014 he collected his three England caps - without conceding a single goal in any of them. However, he's failed to make much progress at the Emirates since then and is out of the picture for this summer's tournament.

2016 Getty Images

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Glen Johnson - right-back - 54 caps

At the last major tournament - the 2014 World Cup - Johnson was a certain starter at right-back. But much has changed since then - including the emergence of Kyle Walker and Nathaniel Clyne as alternative options, plus his own move from Liverpool to Stoke. Still only 31-years-old, Johnson has been consistent at the Britannia, but has failed to catch the eye as much as his rivals.

2016 Getty Images

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Andros Townsend - left midfield - 10 caps

A screamer against Montenegro helped England qualify for the World Cup and his performance in the following crucial game against Poland made him a firm favourite of Hodgson's. Another wonderful goal is among the three he has scored in his 10 caps for England. But while impressing for the Three Lions, nagging doubts about his ability saw his former club Spurs willing to sell him to Newcastle.

2016 Getty Images

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Jack Wilshere - central midfield - 28 caps

Hodgson's positive view of the Arsenal midfielder is well known - and Wilshere's ability isn't in doubt. But neither is his injury record. He hasn't played a single minute of competitive football since scoring a brace for England in June last year and the idea of him waltzing into a side filled with alternate midfield options doesn't sit right.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Michael Carrick - central midfield - 34 caps

In a parallel universe, Carrick has over 100 caps and is considered one of the great England midfielders. But in this one, despite his ability and versatility, he has just 34 because something about the Manchester United player doesn't scream 'pick me'. Right now, that shout is coming louder from Eric Dier and Danny Drinkwater who both performed well in the latest set of friendlies.

2016 Manchester United FC

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - right midfield - 24 caps

In the World Cup squad two years ago, Oxlade-Chamberlain has simply failed to progress as much as was expected. A single goal in the Premier League this season says much. With 24 caps and still only 22-years-old, his England career isn't over but there are simply better options this summer.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Theo Walcott - forward - 42 caps

In the latest set of friendlies Walcott was among the five forwards selected by Hodgson - but he looks the weakest of the bunch. And with Wayne Rooney certain to come back in when fit again, the Arsenal man will rightly be chopped. Despite an exciting start to the season, the old concerns about the 27-year-old - picking the wrong pass, panicking when in on goal, hiding for long periods - all remain.

England XI who SHOULDN'T go to Euro 2016

Andy Carroll - forward - 9 caps

Hodgson has always liked to have a 'big man' option. At Euro 2012 that was Carroll and at the 2014 World Cup it was Rickie Lambert. Unfortunately for Carroll, his consistently dodgy fitness has denied him a lengthy run in the West Ham side this season and Hodgson now has a big man in the shape of Harry Kane with much more to his game than acting as a long-ball target.

2016 Getty Images

While the Three Lions manager has left the door open to a number of players who have struggled with injury this season, it suggests that he will not wait forever to include those that could head to France with doubts over their fitness, and he will instead focus on a 23-man squad that he has full faith in.

Hodgson is also expected to name a standby list – made up of six or seven players – but Shaw is not expected to feature on it if he doesn’t play again this season.

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