Horrible timing for Luke Shaw

Former England defender Jamie Carragher believes Luke Shaw had been–alongside Chris Smalling–Manchester United’s top player this season before suffering a double leg fracture in the 2-1 UEFA Champions League defeat to Dutch Eredivisie champions PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday.

Shaw, 20, was arguably on his way to becoming England’s No. 1 left-back ahead of next summer’s European Championships in France.

However, with the 20-year-old set for  lengthy spell on the sidelines, his prospects of making the Three Lions’ Euro 2016 squad are as uncertain as ever.

“It’s very sad for him and for Manchester United,”Carragher told Sky Sports.”You think of how well he has performed this season, he has possibly been United’s best player alongside Chris Smalling in the early weeks.

“He was probably about to really cement that left back position as his own and also with England ahead of the Euros, just as Ashley Cole did for a decade. Hopefully for him he can come back for United before the end of the season and then make the Euros, but it could be a long road to recovery.

“Over the next few weeks he has to get over the disappointment and then work to try and get back because he has shown what a good player he is. I think when he returns we will see the Shaw we have seen over the last three-four months.

“He will get there, he is a young, powerful lad and I am sure he won’t cut any corners – Manchester United won’t allow that.”

Shaw, who joined United from Southampton for a fee believed to be in the region of £30 million in the summer of 2014, started each of the Red Devils’ first five league fixtures in 2015/16.

Mourinho will give Loftus-Cheek first-team chances

Chelsea F.C. manager Jose Mourinho has revealed England youth international midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek will continue to feature in the Blues’ first-team this season.

Loftus-Cheek, 19, impressed while starting alongside Cesc Fabregas in midfield on Wednesday, as the reigning Premier League champions cruised to a 4-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League.

“I think he’s in the condition to compete with the other players for positions, for opportunities, for minutes, but he’s getting minutes,” Mourinho said.

“He’s potentially a very good player. But you have to feed these young players, and you have to choose the right moment.

“But the reality is that his evolution is important and good.”

Despite Mourinho insisting Loftus-Cheek will continue to get minutes, the 19-year-old has played just 108 minutes for the Blues’ senior team this season.