Shaw Fighting Fit For Fenerbahce Game

Luke Shaw is poised to return to Manchester United’s line-up when Fenerbahce visit Old Trafford in the Europa League on Thursday – and ready to take any criticism on the chin.

The left-back appeared off the bench in the final minute of Monday’s goalless draw with Liverpool, his first action since he picked up a groin injury in the 3-1 defeat to Watford on 18 September.

He has accepted his manager’s assessment following that disappointing result and is now ready to rejoin the starting eleven, with Jose Mourinho confirming the 21-year-old will face the Turkish outfit.

"I'm feeling really good," Shaw told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday. "I had a little bit of a problem with my groin from the Watford game but I've had some time out and I've trained really hard for the last week, so I'm ready to get back playing."

When asked about the manager's post-match comments at Vicarage Road, he said: "I'm a grown man now and I can take what the manager said. I think I'm still young and I need to take on board what he says and to improve. You've got to listen to what your coaches say and have a good attitude about it. 

"Obviously I was disappointed with the result but not with what the manager said. I took it on board because I'm looking to improve and hopefully I do that in the next few matches."

One journalist suggested Shaw experienced a dip prior to his recent lay-off, after adrenaline had got him through the first few games of this campaign - his first games for almost a year after suffering a double leg fracture in September 2015.

"I don't think I've had a massive dip," Shaw responded. "I think I've been unlucky because this [groin] injury has got nothing to do with my [fractured] leg. It was with my other leg and my groin.

"It's been nice to have a little break and to rest my groin but I always want to play. I hate missing matches but in football this is what happens – sometimes you get injured and you've got to sit out for a bit. But I'm back now and ready to fight for my place."

Shaw and his United team-mates could come up against a familiar face on Thursday in the shape of Robin van Persie, who moved to the Istanbul club in July 2015.

Shaw’s first season at Old Trafford, 2014/15, coincided with van Persie’s last, so he saw at close quarters what the 33-year-old Dutchman can do.

"He is definitely a threat and we know what his qualities are," Shaw said. "But sometimes with quality like that, even though you know what he might do, it's very hard to stop.

"I only spent a year with him but I managed to see how good he was in training and in games when he played. We know what quality we need to prepare for but of course we're focusing on their whole team, not just one player."