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
Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025, but it’s now up to £500m and is scheduled to complete it 2029.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Featured Image – Supplied
Sport
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.
Danny Jones -
22nd February 2024 
