The Reason Luke Shaw Is Sitting Out Man Utd's Crucial Derby Clash Against Man City

For the first time in 476 days, Manchester United named a Premier League starting XI without Luke Shaw. If Michael Carrick is to be believed, the absence will be brief.

The once injury-prone fullback transformed into a model of consistency last season, capitalizing on United's significantly lighter schedule to feature in all 38 top-flight matches. Shaw had reliably started United's opening three fixtures of the new campaign before limping off during last weekend's 2–2 stalemate at Everton with a muscular issue.

Carrick chose not to gamble with his only senior natural left back for Thursday's Champions League clash against Azerbaijani underdogs Sabah FK. With United overwhelming favorites and Sunday's Manchester derby looming large, the decision raised few concerns.

"It's a little bit of that [managing him]," Carrick told TNT Sports during the week. "He came off the other day [at Everton] with a little bit of cramp. We didn't want to take any risks really. We tried to manage him."

Shaw failed to recover in time, though Carrick remained upbeat about an imminent return. "Luke is not quite ready yet," the United manager told Sky Sports on Sunday, "but he is very close."

Carrick Forced Into Creative Cover for Problem Position

Man Utd Confirmed Lineup vs. Man City

Starting XI: Senne Lammens; Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, Patrick Dorgu; Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans; Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford; Matheus Cunha.

Substitutes: Karl Darlow (GK), Ayden Heaven, Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Andrey Santos, Noussair Mazraoui, Shea Lacey, Benjamin Šeško.

Patrick Dorgu was handed the responsibility of deputizing for Shaw against City. The adaptable Denmark international was originally brought in by Ruben Amorim as a left wingback but has delivered his strongest displays under Carrick at left wing. With Marcus Rashford reinstated up front, Dorgu has been shifted back into a defensive role.

This arrangement worked well enough for United against Sabah in midweek, with Dorgu providing the assist for Matheus Cunha's opener in an eye-catching display. However, the 21-year-old will face a far sterner test keeping tabs on the likes of Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki and Antoine Semenyo compared to Kaheem Parris, Sabah's 26-year-old right winger who hasn't earned a Jamaica call-up in three years.

Left back has already proven to be a troublesome position for United this season. Hull City deliberately exploited the space left behind by Shaw when he pushed forward from fullback in the opening game of the campaign, causing chaos in a thoroughly deserved 2–0 victory.

City possess considerably greater attacking threat than the Championship playoff winners, with one of the defining themes of Enzo Maresca's early weeks in charge being an emphasis on wide play. Only two clubs have generated more chances from crosses this season than the Cityzens, who can target an aerially dominant Erling Haaland alongside a host of surging box-crashers.