Eriksen returns but Shaw ruled out for Man Utd

Manchester United’s Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen gestures during a pre-season club friendly football match between Manchester United and Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on July 31, 2022. (Photo by Nigel Roddis / AFP) (Photo by NIGEL RODDIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Christian Eriksen could make his first appearance for Manchester United since January when the Red Devils host Everton on Saturday, but Luke Shaw faces a spell on the sidelines.

Eriksen’s return ahead of schedule is a huge boost for the Old Trafford club, with United still involved in three competitions.

The Danish creative midfielder, 31, was expected to be sidelined until later this month after hurting his ankle in United’s 3-1 FA Cup victory over Reading.

“At first we feared we had lost him for the whole season but he worked very well,” said United boss Erik ten Hag.

“I think the medical department did really well… he is already returning to the squad and so is available for the final stages of the season. We are very pleased with that.”

Shaw was withdrawn early in Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Brentford and will not be available for the visit of the Toffees.

Ten Hag said he would monitor the defender’s progress over the coming week before determining how long the England left-back would be out for.

United play five games in the next two weeks that could make or break Ten Hag’s first season in charge.

The Red Devils face Sevilla over two legs in the quarter-finals of the Europa League and travel to Wembley to take on Brighton in the FA Cup semi-finals on April 23.

Before then, winnable Premier League games against struggling Everton and Nottingham Forest offer United the chance to tighten their grip on a place in the top four.

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