Search Icon

Louis van Gaal says Luke Shaw 'not fit enough' to meet his and Manchester United's demands and will train alone

Teenager left-back who joined from Southampton for £28m last month has been put on personal fitness plan by new manager

Louis van Gaal says Luke Shaw 'not fit enough' to meet his and Manchester United's demands
Out of shape: Louis van Gaal claims Luke Shaw isn't fit enough and will train alone until further notice Credit: Photo: ACTION IMAGES

Louis van Gaal has imposed a personal fitness plan on Luke Shaw after claiming Manchester United’s £28m summer signing is ‘not fit enough’ to meet his demands.

The 19-year-old left-back, who became the most expensive teenager in British football history when completing his move from Southampton last month, had cut short his post-World Cup holiday to report for pre-season training at United on July 10.

But the youngster spent the majority of Monday night’s training session at Washington’s FedEx Field away from the rest of the squad working with fitness coach Tony Strudwick in an attempt to sharpen his physical condition.

And although Van Gaal insisted that Shaw is fit to participate in United’s warm-up fixtures on tour, the Dutchman admitted he will be expected to work harder on his fitness, despite the squad currently doing two training sessions a day in the United States.

“Shaw is ok, but I am always a trainer-coach who sees individuals and what they need,” Van Gaal said. “He needs to be fit and is not very fit or fit enough to do what I want.

“He needs to train individually until he is fit. I cannot judge how long that will take, but I see what I see.

“I have spoken with him and we have made a programme for him. He agreed with me.

“How long (will he be on the programme)? That we have to see, but that I don’t know.

“I have heard good messages from Strud (Tony Strudwick), but we have to see.”

Van Gaal, who confirmed that Brazilian defender Rafael da Silva has returned to Manchester for treatment on a groin injury due to the facilities at Carrington and ability to overcome jetlag, admitted that Wilfried Zaha will make his first appearance on tour against Inter Milan in Washington tonight.

“Zaha shall play in the second-half in the strikers’ position,” Van Gaal said. “When we play this system, he has to play as a striker, otherwise he cannot play.

“Ashley Young is a winger, but he is another type who can play wing-back and he did very well against Roma.

“He can play left and right side, but we shall see.”