Manchester United might have finally lost one undroppable - but it isn't a bad thing
Man Utd have been handed a selection headache under Ruben Amorim after a recent injury update.
Ruben Amorim has been given a rare luxury at Manchester United this week: a fully fit squad.
Harry Maguire overcame a knock to be named on the bench against Nottingham Forest last weekend, while Lisandro Martinez is back in full team training and could be in the matchday squad against Tottenham Hotspur. Even youngster Sekou Kone is back in training after his fractured eye socket back in August.
It means we could soon see Amorim unleash what he believes is his strongest line up. Most of those positions are already well-established, though there is one role that is up for serious debate after the latest injury boost.
Martinez return not so Shaw
It had been easy to presume that Lisandro Martinez would go straight back into the Manchester United starting lineup when he was fully fit. The recent form of Luke Shaw suggests it might not be so straightforward.
The 30-year-old has struggled with injury himself in recent years, but has been one of the main beneficiaries of United's reduced fixture schedule this campaign. With the lighter workload, Shaw has been able to manage his fitness well and has started every Premier League match. It has clearly paid off.
Shaw has not only been a mainstay in the United defence, but he has also been a shining light in the starting line up. Other than a poor display in the derby defeat to Man City, the repurposed centre-back has been a steady performer in the United backline and made a strong case to start even when Martinez is fully fit.
It might seem cynical, but a key part of why Shaw was given a chance in the backline over others was due to his characteristics as a left-footed ball-player, a vital skillset that brings balance to the defence and expands their build-up play. Yet while the reason he got a position audition might have underplayed his own ability, his performances in the role have showcased him at his optimum.
Shaw is a trusted part of the first-team squad under Ruben Amorim and someone he knows he can rely upon whenever he is fit. Martinez might have a better recent track record of performing at the highest level, but he will have to prove himself more reliable than Shaw when he is deemed fully match-sharp.
It is ironic too, that despite Shaw's own injury hell, Martinez is now the one facing questions over his durability as he looks to win back a starting role in the United side following another serious injury. Amorim won't mind one bit.
Every team has players who are deemed irreplaceable, but it is a credit to Shaw that Martinez can no longer be considered an undroppable anymore. He might be back from injury, but it doesn't mean he will be back in the starting line up again.
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