Man Utd star regrets agreeing to Erik ten Hag request | Football

Shaw is battling with a hamstring injury ahead of the start of the Euros, with Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate admitting England’s first group game against Serbia will come too soon for the 28-year-old.

Given England’s problems in defence – fellow Manchester United defender Harry Maguire failed to make the final Euros squad due to injury – Shaw’s return would be a huge boost to the team’s chances of a first major trophy since 1966.

But Shaw has not featured in almost four months after aggravating a hamstring injury in Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Luton Town on February 18.

The left-back had to go off with a hamstring problem the week before against Aston Villa but was asked by Ten Hag and United’s medical staff to feature against Luton – something he regrets agreeing to.

‘No one knows the situation, what’s been happening,’ the defender added. ‘I think people have seen that there was a setback, but I was actually very close to returning to team training.

‘I was, of course, pushing to try and get back for the games and the final and I think I pushed too hard. I came back too quick and I actually ended up getting another injury in my hamstring, which was three weeks from the final and they said it was a six-week injury, so that’s why there was that setback.

‘I think people have been getting confused with what’s actually happened because nothing had been said.

‘I got a few people coming up to me, saying: “How can you not be fit for United but fit for England?” But the circumstances were that I did push to do everything I can to be fit for United, and that’s been really my whole season.

‘It’s been disappointing for me, but I want to do everything I can, first and foremost, for United.  It’s better for me to come out and say what happened, because I think there were a lot of questions over how I could be here and not United.

‘That’s been playing on my mind a little bit because I don’t want people thinking that that’s what I’m doing.’

Discussing his current fitness levels and the chances of making England’s opening Euro 2024 game against Serbia, Shaw said: ‘We just go day by day, see how I’m feeling in training.

‘I would love to make the first game, but I don’t want to rush too quickly because realistically I’ve only got one chance. If I feel something, then that’s it. I don’t want that to happen.’

After kick-starting their Euros campaign against Serbia, England face Denmark and Slovenia as they look to top Group C and make the knockout stages.

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