Shaw absent on recovery day as Man United prepare for first Champions League game since 2023

Luke Shaw sat out Manchester United’s final training session at Carrington on Wednesday ahead of their Champions League return against Sabah FK on Thursday, with the club confirming the left-back is on a recovery day rather than carrying a fresh injury.

Shaw, 31, is the only natural senior left-back in Michael Carrick’s squad after United failed to add cover in the transfer window. His absence brought teenager Harry Amass into the first-team session alongside young midfielder Jim Thwaites and goalkeeper Solomon Honor.

Three further players were unavailable through injury: Matthijs de Ligt, Carlos Baleba and Amad all missed the session and remain sidelined.

The fixture marks United’s first Champions League appearance since December 2023, when a home defeat to Bayern Munich ended their group-stage campaign. They enter the competition’s new league-phase format for the first time, with eight fixtures scheduled before the end of January — and Sabah FK represents the most favourable match-up on their draw.

It is also a landmark occasion for Carrick, who takes charge of his 21st game as United head coach but his first outside the Premier League in the role. The 43-year-old has previous experience of European nights at Old Trafford, having overseen a 2-0 win at Villarreal in November 2021 as caretaker manager.

How Carrick and his staff manage the added demands of a two-competition schedule — with reduced training time between matches — is expected to be one of the defining questions of United’s season.

Manchester United training squad vs Sabah FK

Goalkeepers: Lammens, Darlow, Mee, Honor

Defenders: Dalot, Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro, Heaven, Martinez, Amass

Midfielders: Santos, Mount, Tielemans, Mainoo, Fernandes, Thwaites

Forwards: Dorgu, Cunha, Rashford, Mbeumo, Zirkzee, Lacey, Sesko