Manchester United legend urges patience with under-fire Red Devils star | Football

Luke Shaw has come in for criticism already this season but Manchester United legend Gary Pallister has urged patience with the defender.

The 31-year-old remains the Red Devils’ first choice left-back, with the club surprisingly not adding to their options in that position over the summer.

The England international has started all three Premier League games so far this campaign under Michael Carrick and has come under fire for parts of his performances.

Wayne Rooney called for Shaw to be dropped after opening weekend defeat to Hull City, having accused him of ‘schoolboy defending’ in the 2-0 loss.

Former United left-back Patrice Evra said Shaw’s ‘time has gone’ at the club, while Paul Scholes urged the Red Devils to sign Newcastle’s Lewis Hall to replace him.

The former Southampton full-back did look decent going forward against Everton, providing an assist in the 2-2 draw on Sunday and Pallister feels he deserves patience.

The 61-year-old, who won four Premier League titles with Manchester United reckons that after 300 appearances for the club and a good season last time round, Shaw has plenty of credit in the bank.

‘I know there’s a lot being made about Luke Shaw at the moment,’ Pallister told Betarades. ‘He’s not had a great pre-season and probably not a great start to the season, but he was one of our better players last year.

‘So I would still have a little bit more patience with Luke. He’s played at left-back for United, for a long, long time. So I’d give him a bit more time before I really start panicking with that one.’

The former centre-back accepted that Manchester United’s defence has not been up to scratch in the first three league games, conceding six goals.

Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez started at Everton at the weekend and Pallister feels Leny Yoro or Ayden Heaven could return to the side.

‘We can’t keep conceding these goals,’ he said. ‘It’s not always just about looking at the defence. You’re looking at the people in front as well. The midfielders have got to give you that kind of protection. Are United getting that, that balance right? I don’t know.

‘It’s something that I’m sure Michael is very well aware of. He spoke after the Everton game about the amount of goals that the team is conceding which puts them on the back foot. He’s not going to be able to address that in terms of transfers because the window’s passed. So we’ve got to crack on with what we’ve got.

‘Whether he mixes it up, brings Ayden back in, or he brings Leny back in, we shall wait and see, but United as a team have got to be a lot better equipped to deal with the opposition.’

Carrick’s team is back in action on Thursday in the Champions League against Azerbaijani side Sabah.

Shaw did not train on Wednesday, with Carrick explaining: ‘Yeah, we just gave him an extra recovery day today, Luke.

‘So, obviously, we’ll see tomorrow how he is but it’s not an ongoing thing or planning like that. Off the back of the game the other day, as normal, each individual has different little things we manage and Luke was one of them today.’

MORE: Paul Merson says Arsenal star looks like a ‘new £100m signing’ this season

MORE: Paul Scholes claims two teams will not rival Arsenal for the Premier League title

MORE: Paul Merson makes Champions League prediction for Arsenal