Erik ten Hag ignored his own advice with Luke Shaw's Manchester United return

Erik ten Hag will be left sweating on the fitness of Luke Shaw for this weekend's trip to Liverpool after the left-back was forced off during the week.

Shaw was seen holding his hamstring during the first-half of United's fatal 1-0 Champions League defeat against Bayern Munich, and the defender limped down the tunnel at half-time never to return. He was one of two injuries on the night, joining Harry Maguire in the treatment room.

It is the second muscular issue Shaw has suffered this season, the 28-year-old having been out for two months after picking up a hamstring injury against Tottenham in August. He returned during the 3-0 win at Everton last month and has started every game since.

ALSO READ: Potter links show United problem with Ten Hag

ALSO READ: Ten Hag could have just a month to save United job

But in this most hectic of periods, that amounted to six starts and 468 minutes in the space of just 17 days - the equivalent of a full 90 minutes every 3.3 days. That is a lot to ask of any injury returnee, of which United have had several this season.

Ten Hag has generally practiced caution with players returning to fitness and none more so than with Rasmus Hojlund. A back injury was detected during the 20-year-old's medicals in the summer and he was absent for almost a month.

“We are not in a rush,” Ten Hag said of his summer signing in August. “We know we have also without him a strong team and the position is covered, so we don’t rush this.

“It’s about that he’s in the right level. First from the first fitness level and then we have to integrate him, training and then we will bring him in the games, so we take our time.

“It’s not about winning in this moment. It’s about winning on the long term. That is the