Manchester United news: Adam Lallana rejects Jose Mourinho's claims about Luke Shaw's toughness

Shaw missed United's win over Swansea earlier this month

Mourinho previously criticised Shaw after September's defeat to Watford (Getty)

Luke Shaw has received a voice of support from Liverpool’s Adam Lallana in the face of apparent criticism from Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.

Shaw and fellow United and England defender Chris Smalling were the subject of Mourinho’s post-match rant following the 3-1 win over Swansea in the Premier League.

The two missed the victory at the Liberty Stadium through injury, leaving Mourinho forced to play a makeshift defence of Matteo Darmian, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo and Ashley Young.

That caused Mourinho to question their resolve, saying: “In every sport, many times you play and you are not 100 per cent.

“To compete, you have to go to the limits. It’s a cultural thing for some, and that’s not my culture.

“There is a difference between the brave, who want to be there at any cost, and the ones for who a little pain can make a difference. For the team you have to do anything.”

But Lallana, who played with the 21-year-old at Southampton, rejected that claim and insisted Shaw is both physically and mentally tough after recovering from a broken leg that caused him to miss 10 months of football.

"I was with Luke Shaw at Southampton," he told the Daily Star.

"He's a very strong boy. He's had a horrific leg injury. You don't come back from that without being mentally and physically strong.

"You don't come back from a leg break like he had without having difficult times mentally on your own."