Manchester United’s Shaw has surgery on broken leg

Luke Shaw will be out for six to nine months due to the broken leg he suffered in Tuesday’s Champions League match, according to a specialist.

In his Champions League debut, away to PSV Eindhoven, Shaw suffered a double leg fracture after a tackle from Hector Moreno.

“Am pleased to be flying back to Manchester today so I can start my journey back onto the football pitch!”

“He sounds very strong, which was wonderful for me – a big surprise”, the Dutchman told reporters.

He was quick not to be overly positive saying that Shaw “knows that it is a long way to go for him“ even though the “operation was a good operation”. “Maybe he shall come back tomorrow”, van Gaal said.

Another option for Van Gaal would be to move Darmian to left-back, bringing in Antonio Valencia on the right, but the Italy worldwide has been another impressive performer so far this season.

“It is not only physical, but mental”.

“In four competitions usually the bigger teams have double competition up front, but United don’t and that is going to be the big question for the season”, said 39-year-old.

Memphis Depay, who has forged a close bond with Shaw since joining United from PSV in the summer, tweeted a picture of the pair with the message: “My man Luke, what an bad night”.

Clearly, Rojo’s intentions of securing his role in United’s starting eleven were multiplied by infinity following Shaw’s injury. “That is not so easy but we have to do it”. “It’s also hard for the player who has to replace him“.

“We offered him help and asked if there was anything we could do”.

With former Southampton full-back, Luke Shaw, out for a considerable amount of time, the sooner defensive reinforcements arrive the better, say the usual punters turned pundits here in the Transfer Tavern! “We have good replacements in Blind and in Rojo and in Ashley Young”.

But at his press conference ahead of United’s trip to Southampton this weekend, Van Gaal said Shaw is now in better spirits. I feel bad for him, for his family.

Van Gaal also admitted that the form of new signing Anthony Martial has forced him to re-assess how the French striker will be allowed to develop at Old Trafford this season.

“That’s why I just want to send my strength”.

The good news for the United manager is that captain Wayne Rooney has overcome a hamstring and is fit to start the match.