Carrick explains Shaw's Man Utd training absence

Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw in action during the 2-2 draw at Everton [Getty Images] Debate around Manchester United's left-back position has been raging all summer. The fundamental point is that while Luke Shaw started all 38 Premier League games last season, and the first three this, it was going to be stretch to imagine the 31-year-old would navigate through a 60-game campaign. Now United head coach Michael Carrick has given an insight into how Shaw played so often. Last season, Carrick's team only had two midweek games, neither of which was followed by a weekend fixture. Now they play Sabah FK in the Champions League, followed by Manchester City on Sunday, then Brighton in the EFL Cup next Wednesday and finally a trip to Fulham before the next international break. There is no point Shaw pushing himself to play tomorrow because it risks his involvement in the other games. So he didn't train. "We just gave him an extra recovery day today" said Carrick. "We'll see by tomorrow how he is, but it's not an ongoing thing or a plan or anything like that. "It was just off the back of the game the other day. So, as normal, each individual has different little things that we manage." Matthijs de Ligt's back injury cannot be described as a 'little thing' as it has kept him out for nine months now. Like Shaw, he was absent from training despite recent posts on United's social media accounts showing the Netherlands defender in a session. "I think when you're out for such a long period of time, you've got to manage that last stage," said Carrick. "It's important. We've got to get that balance right for when to take the next step. "But he's on a good track. He's in a good place, and it's great to have him back around us, and hopefully it'll be sometime soon."