Erik ten Hag admits Luke Shaw not close to return

Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is not expecting Luke Shaw to make a return to action before the next international break.

Left-back Shaw has not played since the 2-0 loss at Tottenham on 19 August, United's second fixture of the season, due to a muscle injury – sitting out nine club games as well as four England matches.

Ten Hag’s men are set to play seven times between now and England’s next game, against Malta on 17 November.

United have been blighted by injuries in defence, with right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka another who has been sidelined since sustaining an injury against Brighton on September 18.

Ten Hag said: "Of course they are closer. (But) for Luke Shaw, I don’t expect him back in this block of games. Aaron Wan-Bissaka, I don’t think he’s too far away from returning to team training and so back in the team."

United travel to Bramall Lane to face Sheffield United on Saturday night without Casemiro, who emerged from Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela last Friday and Uruguay five days later with an injury.

"In the first game he came off but then he played the second game, it was an important one," Ten Hag said of the midfielder, who is suspended for next Tuesday’s Champions League clash with FC Copenhagen.

"I’m sure that game didn’t help him, but it’s a small injury, he’ll return (from Brazil) next week, it will be healed and then he’s ready for our next (league) game (against Manchester City), I’m sure."

United do have defensive pair Raphael Varane and Sergio Reguilon available again after injury lay-offs, while Tyrell Malacia and Lisandro Martinez are other defenders still sidelined alongside Shaw and Wan-Bissaka.

Ten Hag – whose side have lost six times in all competitions this term and are 10th in the