Interim Manchester United manager Darren Fletcher has clarified the reason behind Luke Shaw's surprise omission from the squad for Sunday's FA Cup exit against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Shaw's Absence Explained
The experienced left-back, who has been a near-ever-present this season, was a notable absentee as United crashed out of the competition at the third-round stage. Goals from Brajan Gruda and former United striker Danny Welbeck at Old Trafford sealed a 2-1 victory for the Seagulls, despite a late consolation from Benjamin Sesko.
Fletcher, speaking to the club's in-house channel MUTV, confirmed the decision was tactical and based on managing player workload, not due to any new injury. 'Mainly because the players have had a busy schedule, there's been a lot of games,' Fletcher stated. 'Some of the players' loads have gone really high.'
Managing a Stretched Squad
The interim boss highlighted the challenging circumstances of a 'skeleton squad' dealing with injuries and players away at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). He specifically mentioned Shaw and midfielder Casemiro as players who had accumulated significant minutes.
'I felt it was important that those players... played a lot in minutes,' Fletcher explained. 'So just trying to freshen them up, keep them right, don't want to risk any more injuries, and then also give opportunities to some other players.'
Shaw had started four matches in the space of 16 days prior to the Brighton fixture, with his only other absence this campaign coming in August's Carabao Cup loss to Grimsby Town.
Looking Ahead to the Manchester Derby
The planned rest means Shaw is expected to be available for selection for United's next Premier League fixture, which is the highly-anticipated Manchester derby against rivals Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium next Saturday.
However, Fletcher now faces a selection dilemma. With Shaw fresh, he must decide whether to immediately recall his first-choice defender or stick with Patrick Dorgu, who was given an opportunity in his place against Brighton.
The defeat to Brighton all but confirms a second consecutive season without silverware for Manchester United, compounding a difficult period following the recent sacking of manager Ruben Amorim.
