Erik ten Hag is confident that Luke Shaw’s return to action can bring “stability” to Manchester United.
The Dutch manager provided updates on Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund as well.
Ten Hag shared that Luke Shaw, who has completed his rehabilitation from a thigh injury that kept him sidelined for three months, is now prepared for competitive play.
Additionally, Onana has successfully recovered from a groin injury sustained during the World Cup qualifier against Mauritius and is ready to face Everton.
However, the availability of Hojlund remains uncertain.
He recently tweaked his right hamstring during the Luton match, leading to his withdrawal from the Denmark squad for fixtures against Slovenia and Northern Ireland.
Speaking to reporters, Ten Hag said: “Luke Shaw will be available for Sunday; he will be in the squad. You can mention many things. You can mention his physicality, his technical ability, and his leadership; it’s clear.
“For a long time in the season, we didn’t have a left-back. We are very happy he’s back; it’s a good sign. He will help us be more stable; I am sure of that.”
When asked about the status of Hojlund and Onana, he added, “Rasmus is a close finish. He’s training; he finished outside. He’s making very good steps and we have to wait until tomorrow before we make a final decision. Andre is okay; he stepped into training today, and he’s good.”
Manchester United is facing a hectic schedule with three games in the upcoming week, beginning with a trip to Merseyside on Saturday. Subsequently, they will embark on a longer journey to Turkey to take on Galatasaray, and upon their return, they will head to Newcastle for another away fixture.
Despite the challenging schedule, Ten Hag assured that his team is well-prepared for the upcoming rigors, and he has already devised a plan to navigate through it.
“Well, we got started today early and then we see how condensed the week ahead is with three away games in six days,” Ten Hag said. “We have to deal with that. We have a plan and have studied for it. We’ve made the players aware that they have to take responsibility. It’s about cooperation.”
Ten Hag has received a boost with the return of Shaw and Onana.
He is optimistic that the Red Devils will capitalise on their comeback, securing maximum points in the next three fixtures to stabilise their position in both English and European competitions.