England and Manchester United fullback Luke Shaw is looking like a doubt for the Euros this summer as he has suffered yet another injury that is set to rule him out for the majority of the season if not all of it.
Shaw had only just returned to Premier League action in recent weeks and was substituted at half-time during Man United’s away win against Aston Villa as a precaution, at least according to Erik ten Hag.
However, the same scenario played out in the game against Luton at Kenilworth Road this past Sunday and the left-back was sadly left on the physio bench following what has now been confirmed to be a recurring hamstring injury.
Unfortunately for Reds and England supporters alike, the club released a statement explaining that “Shaw has sustained a muscle injury and will be out for an extended period”, adding that “further assessment is still needed to determine the severity but we expect him to be absent for a few months.”
🔴 Manchester United expect Luke Shaw to return just before the end of the season, as English LB also hopes to be ready for the Euros.
Shaw’s Euros prospects are now in doubt following an unfortunate hamstring injury.
With Euro 2024 looming and England manager Gareth Southgate set to make his final squad selection in the next couple of months or so, it will be nothing short of a race to get back to fitness and hope that he might return to action in some form towards the end of the season — though it looks unlikely.
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Said to be a muscle injury rather than any kind of fracture or ligament damage, his United and Three Lions teammates will also be keeping their fingers crossed for a straightforward recovery even if it does take a while.
Now 28, the worry on the player’s side is that he won’t want to miss out on what could be one of his last few chances to play in a major international tournament and having made such a huge impact at the World Cup and the most recent Euros, having scored that incredible opener in the final, neither will fans.
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The defender has had more of an injury-ridden career than most and spent large spells on the sidelines at Old Trafford, in particular, and with ten Hag’s other fullbacks Tyrell Malacia and Aaron Wan-Bissaka both still injured, not to mention Lisandro Martinez also out for two months, they’re strapped at the back.
As for who could fill in for Shaw at left-back when England travel to the Euros, the likes of Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell and Newcastle’s Dan Burn are probably furthest in the pecking order behind him, but Brentford’s Rico Henry and Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell could also be in contention for the full squad.
On the other hand, Southgate has experimented plenty with three/five at the back and could opt for deploying more centre-halves to fill in, having often used Manchester City star and treble-winner as a right-sided centre-back.
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If you were Southgate and Shaw wasn’t an option, who would you put at left-back for Euro 2024 or would change the shape of the back line to suit the players available?
Featured Images — USA Network (via Screenshot)/Luke Shaw/England (via Instagram)
Sport
Tommy Fury announces huge fight against former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall
Daisy Jackson
Tommy Fury has announced his next major boxing match – against a rather unlikely opponent.
The Manc boxer and former Love Island star will face Eddie Hall, who once reigned as the World’s Strongest Man and was the first person on the planet to deadlift 500kg.
The match, billed as Beauty vs The Beast (we’ll let you decide who’s who…), will take place at the AO Arena this summer.
Tommy Fury and Eddie Hall will be facing off in Manchester as part of the Misfits Boxing series, a sports promotion company founded by YouTube sensation KSI.
26-year-old Fury – younger brother of heavyweight legend Tyson Fury – remains unbeaten, seeing off all-comers in the crossover boxing world.
As for 38-year-old Eddie Hall (nicknamed The Beast), he retired as a strongman competitor, where he’s previously been crowned the World’s Strongest Man, and has now pivoted into combat sports.
The pair have collaborated recently on several videos online, taking on challenges like a One Punch Knockout and a breakfast eating competition.
But this will be the first time they’ve publicly faced off in the ring.
Misfirst Boxing has once more delivered the biggest match-ups possible in the crossover boxing space, with Fury vs. Hall promising to be a titanic tussle that will captivate fans around the world.
Tommy Fury vs Eddie Hall, Beauty vs The Beast, will take place on Saturday 13 June at the AO Arena in Manchester – you can get tickets HERE.
Corey Blackett-Taylor ruled out injured for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
Bolton Wanderers winger Corey Blackett-Taylor has been ruled out for the rest of the season following injury.
With not that long left in this year’s campaign and the playoff scrap set to ramp up even further in the coming weeks, it’s an unfortunate twist of fate for the Trotters.
Despite still being only a relatively recent signing, having just joined Bolton in the most recent January transfer window, it didn’t take long for him to make a good impression.
Scoring on debut in a 1-0 away win against AFC Wimbledon, the 28-year-old is now set to miss the remainder of the 2025/26 term, letting supporters know the news on Friday, 27 March.
Blackett-Taylor was forced off in the game against Rotherham United after pulling up in the wake of taking a shot, ultimately being subbed in the first half.
It was quickly confirmed to be a thigh injury, and while the specific nature and severity of the damage haven’t been fully detailed, he has now informed fans that his season is over.
Writing on Instagram, he said: “Instantly from arriving at the club, I felt the passion and support from the fans, club, staff and players.
“I have no doubts [about] the club achieving their targets of promotion – I want to say a huge thank you for making me feel so welcomed and comfortable. Unfortunately, my season is concluded due to my injury, but I’ll be here supporting the team to the very end.”
He isn’t the only impactful League One player at a side eyeing up the Championship to have been hampered by setbacks on the physio bench, with rivals Stockport County also confirming an absence at this crucial point in the campaign.
Not ideal for either of the Greater Manchester hopefuls.
Once again, while the recovery period for both of these players has already begun, the exact timelines for their return remain to be seen.
That being said, chances are we’ll see the Derby County loanee back in action before Hills, though we’ll have to wait to find out whether it will be at the Toughsheet Stadium or back with his parent club.
Who do you think is going to clinch that third promotion place at Wembley come this May?
Danny Jones -
22nd February 2024 
