How many games can Shaw play?

Signing an additional left-back has looked an obvious thing for Manchester United to do.

Luke Shaw started all 38 Premier League games last season and he started at Hull on Saturday. Of United's past 44 league games, the 31-year-old England international has failed to start just one, the final game of the 2024-25 campaign, four days after the Europa League final defeat by Tottenham - and he went on the post-season tour of Asia immediately afterwards.

Before that, Shaw's injury record had not been great.

Between February 2024 and April 2025, he played as many games for England (three) as he did for his club. He missed three months at the start of the 2023-24 campaign.

There were calf and hamstring issues but also a feeling Erik ten Hag rushed him back too quickly.

More than anyone, Shaw benefited from a 40-game season, allowing him to prepare properly, largely for one game a week, sometimes not even that.

That preparation time will not be repeated.

Although there are blank midweeks between Manchester United's first three games, if they get through two Carabao Cup rounds, they will not have a full midweek without a game, other than during international breaks, until the one that includes Christmas Day.

It is the combination of Shaw's injury record and the crush of games that has led to the feeling another left-back will arrive.