Wayne Rooney has identified Luke Shaw as a player Manchester United cannot consistently rely on heading into the new Premier League season. Speaking on the debut episode of his podcast, 'Stick to United,' Rooney expressed worries about the team's left-back position and the overall physicality of the midfield.
Rooney's comments came after Manchester United's 4-2 loss to AC Milan in their final pre-season friendly. "I thought Luke Shaw was at fault for all four goals," co-host Mark Goldbridge stated, adding that Shaw "didn't have the best game against AC Milan." Rooney concurred, noting that while Shaw had a strong previous season, his performance against Milan was subpar. "I don't think you can rely on Luke Shaw to be consistent for the whole season," Rooney said.
Rooney suggested that Manchester United could consider signing Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly as a potential solution for left-back, and possibly a player who could also contribute in midfield. "I know we're hearing that he's available for not much money," Rooney remarked. "I think it's an absolute no-brainer. I think if you can get a player who can play left back, he can play centre midfield. He's young. He's got a massive future ahead of him."
Beyond the left-back position, Rooney raised concerns about the midfield's lack of physicality. He observed that midfielders like Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Kobbie Mainoo are "all small lads, there's not much pace among the three of them." Rooney emphasized the need for a "big box-to-box midfield player who can break up play, can drive with the ball, can see a pass." While not naming a specific player, he alluded that Aston Villa's Amadou Onana might fit the profile.
These concerns echo manager Michael Carrick's recent calls for further signings. Carrick stated last week that the club "want more, we need more, we keep looking for how we can do that," emphasizing the need to push boundaries to secure victories. Manchester United's opening Premier League match is scheduled against Hull.
