Luke Shaw set to miss Manchester United's League Cup game vs Barnsley

Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw will not be fit for Wednesday’s League Cup match against Barnsley, according to manager Erik Ten Hag. Shaw, who has been sidelined with a calf injury since the start of pre-season training, was initially expected to return after the international break. However, Ten Hag could not provide a specific timeline for the 29-year-old’s recovery.

“Luke Shaw is progressing, but he is not ready to be selected for the match,” Ten Hag told reporters on Monday. “We have a plan in mind for when he might be ready, but it’s dependent on how his recovery progresses. There are many variables that can speed up or slow down his return.”

In more positive news, Ten Hag confirmed that full-back Noussair Mazraoui and centre-backs Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez will be available for the League Cup tie. All three players were substituted in the second half of United’s 3-0 victory over Southampton on Saturday but are now fit for selection.

However, Manuel Ugarte, who made his debut as a substitute at St. Mary’s last week, remains uncertain for the League Cup game. Ten Hag indicated that Ugarte’s inclusion in the squad will be decided closer to the match.

“All three—Mazraoui, De Ligt, and Martinez—are available and in good condition,” Ten Hag said. “As for Ugarte, we will finalize the selection closer to the game.”

Manchester United will also be missing Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia, Leny Yoro, Mason Mount, and Rasmus Hojlund, all of whom were absent from the weekend’s win due to injury.

“They are not ready for tomorrow’s game. We will assess their progress as it continues,” Ten Hag added.

The United manager emphasized his focus on winning trophies and managing player rotations to navigate the busy schedule. “We have many players available, and we will rotate the squad to cover all the games. It’s not just about the starting XI—having these options is a nice problem to have,” Ten Hag concluded.