Luke Shaw is set for a recall to the Manchester United first team
Jose Mourinho's side take on the Championship club tomorrow night at Old Trafford in the third round of the cup.
And Shaw, yet to play for Manchester United side this season, is in line for a recall after missing the under-23 match on Monday night.
Shaw missed the end of last season with another injury after aggravating his back in April against Swansea.
It was another disturbance for the 22-year-old who broke his leg the season before under Louis van Gaal against PSV.
But he has played the last three under-23 matches in a bid to build up some fitness and form.
And now he’s set for the first team this week to see where he’s at.
Ashley Young started at left-back against Everton on Sunday with Mourinho also picking Daley Bling and Matteo Darmian there at times this term.
But Shaw’s return could give him another option despite struggling to ever really gain the manager’s trust last year.
"Luke Shaw is not injured anymore so it is a question of form," Mourinho said last week.
"It's a question of option but he is not injured, he's recovered from his injury."
GETTY
Luke Shaw has been building up fitness with Manchester United's under-23s
Former United defender Gary Neville claimed Mourinho has a problem at left-back with none of his options making the place their own.
He believes Antonio Valencia’s progress at right back over the last 18 months has been crucial to Mourinho’s side but still sees issues on the left.
"He's been absolutely outstanding for the last 18 months, two years," Neville said of Valencia on Sky Sports.
"I had doubts as to whether it could last in the long term with him, I thought it was more of a stop-gap until they signed a right-back. But he's the real thing.
"He is a top right-back now. He's strong, quick, supports the attack, and doesn't make any mistakes. United don't need to sign a right-back. To think they signed Matteo Darmian as the right-back, Valencia is head and shoulders above him.
"I think the problem is on the other side at left-back, where Ashley Young was put under a lot of pressure by [Tom] Davies and [Cuco] Martina. Blind's played there, Rojo's played there, Shaw's played there, Darmian's played there, they can't button that one down.
"But Valencia at right-back has been absolutely fantastic."
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