Man Utd's Iron Man Suffers Crushing Injury Setback in Premier League Campaign
Luke Shaw suffered an injury during the opening period of Manchester United's encounter with Crystal Palace on Sunday, following a harsh collision with Daniel Muñoz.
The defender, who has battled fitness issues in the past, was making his 28th straight Premier League appearance at Old Trafford this weekend, marking the most consistent spell he has achieved in the top flight during his professional career.
A reduced fixture schedule at Manchester United has certainly helped Shaw maintain his fitness levels, though it was a physical challenge that brought down the England international against Palace. With the Red Devils already behind due to Maxence Lacroix's early fourth-minute goal, Michael Carrick's team faced additional setbacks following Muñoz's unfortunate challenge.
Palace's attacking right-back entered a contested challenge with Shaw, who reached the ball first to clear it away. Muñoz's forward motion carried him through, causing him to step heavily on Shaw's left foot. Following brief medical attention from United's staff, the 30-year-old was substituted by the adaptable Noussair Mazraoui in the 24th minute.
Man Utd's Upcoming Fixtures
Man Utd's Upcoming Fixtures
Date | Opponent | Reverse Fixture Result |
|---|---|---|
Wednesday, March 4 | Newcastle (A) | 1–0 Win |
Sunday, March 15 | Aston Villa (H) | 2–1 Loss |
Friday, March 20 | Bournemouth (A) | 4–4 Draw |
Saturday, April 11 | Leeds (H) | 1–1 Draw |
Saturday, April 18 | Chelsea (A) | 2–1 Win |
During a campaign where United will feature in just 40 competitive matches, Shaw's injury occurs during an unusual period of fixture density. Sunday's home match against Palace marked United's second game in 18 days, yet barely 76 hours separate the weekend's final whistle from the club's next away fixture at St James's Park on Wednesday night.
Luckily for Manchester United, the Magpies are experiencing a terrible streak of league form. Newcastle suffered their third consecutive top-flight home defeat on Saturday, a first under Eddie Howe's nearly five-year tenure on Tyneside. "Regarding the Premier League, our performances haven't met standards for some time," the manager acknowledged following this weekend's 3–2 loss to Everton.
According to Howe, it's been an issue of "divided attention" for players excited about their Champions League campaign. Manchester United face no such complications, and Shaw will have until Sunday, March 15 to recover for the club's next Premier League match against another struggling side preoccupied with European competition; Aston Villa.
How Man Utd Can Replace Luke Shaw
How Man Utd Can Replace Luke Shaw
United's medical bay isn't particularly crowded, but the players Shaw might join share some worrying similarities. Patrick Dorgu and Lisandro Martínez stand out as the two clearest options to cover for the newly sidelined left-back.
Dorgu isn't anticipated to return until late March, while Martínez has been absent from United's last two fixtures. The World Cup champion missed Sunday's match, but Carrick indicated before kickoff that it would only be "a few days" before he could rely on his dependable defender again.
If Martínez remains unavailable for the St James' Park visit, Carrick's sole naturally left-footed defender available would be Tyrell Malacia. The injury-plagued Dutch international hasn't started a Premier League game since December 2024, when he was withdrawn at halftime during a 3–0 loss to Bournemouth.
Carrick's choice to deploy Mazraoui instead of Malacia on Sunday could prove telling. The flexible Moroccan international has considerable experience playing on the left flank—when your nation already boasts the world's premier right-back, such versatility proves valuable—though he doesn't provide the same natural width as Shaw from that position.