Manchester United have been given a boost as two first-team stars, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez, have been spotted back at Carrington, with the former said to have resumed full training and the centre-back stepped up his recovery.
The club confirmed that Shaw, who has been out of the Man United squad for three months with a muscle injury, returned to training with the rest of the group on Wednesday.
Erik ten Hag has had to experiment with a number of individuals at left-back in the meantime, with Tyrell Malacia also injured and Sergio Reguilón in and out of the squad with various knocks, leaving right-back Diogo Dalot and midfield signing Sofyan Amrabat to fill in among other makeshift replacements.
The England international’s return will no doubt prove a huge boost to the Dutchman’s backline and general squad depth as the Red Devils have been riddled with injury problems throughout the year, and the return of Martinez to the Carrington Training Complex will no doubt give supporters added hope too.
Luke Shaw is back in training and could be in contention for the United bench this weekend.
Now a World Cup winner with Argentina, the 25-year-old was one of ten Hag’s key signings and quickly became a fan favourite, however, after doing yet more damage to his metatarsal — the same injury that wiped him out for a large chunk of last season — the Reds have once again had to do without him.
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While the former Ajax man isn’t due to return until 2024, his return to Carrington marks a positive step in his individual recovery and, in the case of United fans, could mean they could expect a comeback not long after the Christmas period.
As two of the first names on starting 11 when everyone is fit, Shaw’s imminent return and Martinez’s eventual reintegration could hugely benefit results at Old Trafford and on the road in what has been another up-and-down campaign for the red half of Manchester.
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On the other hand, believe it or not, United are actually the most in-form team in the Premier League at present, with four wins in their last five matches and a very winnable fixture against Everton up next following the end of the international break.
Nevertheless, even having Shaw available for selection again will allow the manager to put players back in the right position and when Martinez does gradually return in the new year, his options and ability to rotate in the Champions League will improve even more.
Man United currently sit sixth in the league, seven points off leaders Man City on 28 and with plenty of teams only a point or two behind them.
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It’s not even Christmas yet, of course, and it’s still a long old season but it’s looking like we might have another gripping title race on our hands.
Manchester City release limited-edition Blossoms shirts exclusively in new flagship store
Daisy Jackson
Manchester City have released a limited run of special Blossoms shirts, which will be available exclusively at the new flagship City Store.
Etihad Airways has donated the front-of-shirt space for the special drop, which celebrates the Stockport band’s lifelong support of Man City and will fundraise forCity in the Community’s 40th anniversary.
The Manchester City x Blossoms collab features the band’s logo across the chest of the 2024/25 season’s away shirt – one of the Club’s most popular designs in recent years.
Profits from sales of the shirts will be donated to CITC to support its 40th anniversary fundraising, which empower healthier lives with city youth through football.
Blossoms have just secured their fifth UK number one album with their latest release, ‘Songs From The Wedding Cake’, and will soon be heading on an arena tour that includes two massive shows at the Co-op Live.
There’s a very limited run of the Man City Blossoms shirts, available in sizes small to large, which will exclusively be sold at the new flagship CityStore.
The shirts have dropped in-store this morning, with further drops to be released around the band’s tour dates this November and December.
As for that new City store – it’s a whopping 21,000 sq ft, three-floor space at Medlock Square, right beside the Etihad Stadium, and is the biggest shop in the club’s history.
The new flagship has opened today in collaboration with PUMA and Stichd, and features a new, interactive ‘Make It Yours’ customisation station as well as an expanded range of Manchester City products.
Tickets go live as opening date is announced for Manchester City’s new ‘immersive’ museum experience
Emily Sergeant
Tickets to visit Manchester City’s new ‘immersive’ museum experience have officially gone live ahead of the grand opening.
Set to open in the heart of the £300m Medlock Square entertainment district at Manchester’s Etihad Campus next month, the Manchester City Museum Experience will be spread across 10 distinctive spaces – with visitors invited to take a trip down memory lane with nostalgic environments from throughout the club’s history.
Fans will also be able to take part in interactive media experiences, like posing with all 48 major trophies won by the club’s first teams or trying their hand at football punditry.
The experience will combine the latest immersive technology with physical memorabilia drawn from across the club’s history to do this.
Hidden details and surprising ‘did you know’ facts are set to be embedded across the experience, so that even the most devoted Man City fans will have the chance to discover something new about the club they love.
By combining interactive environments, technology, and authentic artefacts, the experience is aiming to appeal to a wide audience – from lifelong Manchester City supporters, to families and those with a broader interest in football, culture, and the city of Manchester.
“The Museum Experience has been designed as a destination that goes beyond just the pitch,” commented Jeremy Maxton, who is the Director of Visitor Attractions at Manchester City Football Club.
Manchester City releases CGIs and important details of its new ‘immersive’ museum / Credit: Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
“Whether you’re a lifelong supporter, visiting Manchester for a weekend, or simply looking for a unique day out, we’ve created an experience that offers something for everyone.
“From the recreated environments and original memorabilia to the interactive elements, there are different ways into the Club’s history throughout the Museum.
“We’ve also built in space for new stories to be added over time, so the experience can continue to evolve. It’s been a huge project to bring together and we’re looking forward to people seeing it for themselves later this year.”
The Manchester City Museum Experience officially opens on 14 December, and you can now book tickets to visit from that date here.
Featured Image – Credit: Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
Danny Jones -
23rd November 2023 
