Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs believes the club will be exploring the possibility of signing a new left-back following Luke Shaw’s latest injury blow.
Shaw is set to miss United’s first three games of the new Premier League season with a calf problem suffered at the start of pre-season. Erik ten Hag hopes to have him available again following the first international break of the season away to Southampton on September 14.
United were beset by injury problems last season, particularly at left-back with Tyrell Malacia missing the entire campaign. Shaw missed 37 games in total with muscle injuries leaving ten Hag with no recognised option in that position for much of the season.
With Malacia still not fit, United begin the season with the same old problem. Lisandro Martinez shifted out to left-back in the Community Shield clash with Manchester City last Saturday with new signing Noussair Mazraoui, while a right-back by trade, also capable of playing that position.
United are thought to be considering another left-back before the summer transfer window closes having signed Sergio Reguilon on loan in similar circumstances last year.
And the club’s record appearance-maker Giggs believes work is underway to address the problem.
‘We’ve had real problems, not just at left back but all over the pitch regarding injuries,’ Giggs told the Webby & O’Neill show.
‘That again is something Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox will be looking at. The availability of players, where we need to strengthen in different positions and where we are short because there will be injuries and we seem to get more than most.
‘Hopefully we don’t this season but we need to be able to cope. We need that strength in depth where if we are missing that player, we have got someone who can come in.’
Marcus Rashford meanwhile is out to put a disappointing 2023-24 season behind him after just seven goals last term – a huge drop off after a best-ever haul of 30 the previous campaign.
‘He will be disappointed getting left out [of the England squad] in the summer so he will have a point to prove,’ Giggs said of Rashford.
‘We have all seen Marcus at his best he’s unplayable. Just over the last year or so he has looked like he has got the world on his shoulders, I just want to see him enjoying his football.
‘I got told by Brian Kidd at a young age, you take a full back on 10 times, you might get tackled nine of those times but the 10th time you win the match.’
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