Luke Shaw to Miss Manchester United's Champions League Opener

Luke Shaw is expected to sit out Manchester United’s Champions League opener against Sabah on Thursday, leaving Michael Carrick dangerously light at left back ahead of a pivotal week.

Shaw skipped United’s final session on Wednesday morning, which had been designated as a recovery and rest day for the squad. His absence, though, is a sharp reminder of how exposed United are in that position.

The timing could hardly be worse.

United host Manchester City on Sunday, with Pep Guardiola’s side enjoying a two-day advantage in preparation after their win over Porto on Tuesday night. Carrick must now juggle his resources for Europe without losing ground before the derby.

Shaw, 31, was withdrawn in the 91st minute at Everton on Sunday with United leading 2-1, only to watch Ainsley Maitland-Niles grab a 95th-minute equaliser. The late change on the left flank formed part of a defensive reshuffle that has not gone unnoticed.

Gary Neville openly questioned Carrick’s decision to tinker with his back line so deep into stoppage time. Right back Diogo Dalot was also replaced, with centre back Leny Yoro coming on in the closing stages at the Hill Dickinson Stadium as United tried to see the game out. They didn’t.

The problems at left back have been months in the making.

United failed to land a specialist in the summer window, hitting a dead end with Newcastle when they enquired about Lewis Hall. The response from St James’ Park was blunt, and United walked away without an alternative.

That left Shaw as the only senior, natural left back in the squad. Behind him, the safety net is thin.

Harry Amass, 19, is the only specialist back-up, but he has not played a competitive game for United since May 2025. The teenager spent last season on loan in the Championship with Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich City, only for a hamstring injury at Norwich in January to cut his campaign short. He has not featured since.

Noussair Mazraoui can fill in on the left and did so at Everton, coming on for Shaw before inadvertently knocking the ball into the path of Maitland-Niles for that late leveller. It was a cruel snapshot of United’s makeshift solutions in a position they knew was vulnerable.

United were also offered Arsenal left back Myles Lewis-Skelly but walked away from talks when the price climbed beyond £50million. The club baulked at the fee. Now, with Shaw sidelined for Europe and City looming on Sunday, that decision will be tested on the pitch rather than in the boardroom.