LONDON // Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has been ruled out of England's 2018 World Cup qualifier against Slovakia after missing training on Saturday.
Shaw has only recently returned from a double leg-break and England’s medical staff decided he shouldn’t train as they manage the workload of a player who missed the majority of last season.
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The 21-year-old left-back was replaced in training at St George’s Park by Arsenal’s Tafari Moore, but the youngster did not fly with the team to Slovakia.
Shaw will miss out on a possible England return having won his last cap almost a year ago in a Euro 2016 qualifying victory over Switzerland at Wembley.
However, even before Shaw’s withdrawal, England manager Sam Allardyce appeared set to select Tottenham Hotspur’s Danny Rose as his left-back against Slovakia in Trnava in the first match of his reign on Sunday.
“Luke Shaw has left the England camp and returned to Manchester United,” an English Football Association statement read.
“The left-back was rested from training at St George’s Park this morning, with the medical team continuing to manage his workload.
“With Danny Rose set to start against Slovakia in Trnava tomorrow night, Shaw has been allowed to return to Manchester to train with his club as a precautionary measure.
“Sam Allardyce’s remaining 22 players all travelled out to Slovakia this afternoon.”
While it is unclear if Shaw has suffered a new injury, any fitness setback would be a blow as he looks to rebuild his career after missing so much football due to breaking his leg in a Uefa Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven last year.
Speaking earlier in the week, Shaw said he was not squeamish about the injury and was happy to show off the scars left behind by the surgery.
“I don’t mind answering questions about my leg. I think sometimes people don’t like talking about it, but I’m not bothered,” he said.
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