Luke Shaw’s fitness in doubt before United face Atletico and Leeds

Luke Shaw’s status is uncertain before Manchester United’s next two games after he appeared to limp away from Old Trafford following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham. There is no confirmed diagnosis or timescale, so United do not yet know whether the left-back will miss Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Atletico Madrid or Sunday’s trip to Leeds.

Shaw stayed on the pitch until the 95th minute, when Ayden Heaven replaced him. He appeared to wince as he walked away after a match in which he had also been involved in the confrontation that led to Rodrigo Bentancur’s red card. Shaw was booked for shoving the Tottenham midfielder before they came together near the touchline.

That uncertainty leaves Michael Carrick with a thin specialist option at left-back: Harry Amass is the only other one in United’s first-team squad. The timing matters, too. Atletico visit Old Trafford on Tuesday, then United travel to Leeds five days later. Leeds are sixth with nine points from six games, while United sit 12th.

The concern comes as United try to manage Shaw’s workload. He played all 38 of the club’s league games last season, and Carrick has said United want to ease the 31-year-old’s burden this term. Shaw missed last month’s derby defeat to Manchester City after what Carrick described as a “very small” setback.

Before United’s Champions League game against Sabah, Carrick said Shaw had been given an extra recovery day. “It’s not an ongoing thing or a plan,” he said, explaining that the decision followed the previous game and that the staff manage players’ individual needs.

United had looked for left-back cover in the summer and targeted Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, but Newcastle made clear he would not be sold unless they received an astronomical offer. The transfer window closed without United adding support in the position.

United’s draw with Spurs was already a frustrating result: Bryan Mbeumo put them ahead in the 73rd minute, Bentancur was sent off five minutes later, and Dominic Solanke headed a late equaliser from Sandro Tonali’s cross. Now the immediate issue is Shaw’s fitness. Until there is a diagnosis, neither a spell out nor his availability for Atletico and Leeds can be confirmed; if he cannot play, Carrick has only one other specialist left-back in the squad.