Early blow for United as Shaw debut delayed

Luke Shaw faces an extended wait to make his competitive debut for Manchester United after he was ruled out for up to four weeks with a hamstring injury.

Shaw, a £27million capture from Southampton in June, is set to miss United’s Barclays Premier League opener against Swansea on Saturday – as well as further league fixtures against Sunderland and Burnley.

The 19-year-old left-back made his Red Devils debut in a 7-0 friendly win over LA Galaxy last month but will not be able to make his league bow this weekend, which will also mark boss Louis van Gaal’s first competitive match at the helm.

Shaw sat out the friendly victory against Valencia at Old Trafford due to the problem and faces a wait before making his competitive debut for the club.

News of Shaw’s setback came shortly after United announced their squad numbers for the 2014/15 Premier League season.

As expected, Shaw inherited the number three jersey from Patrice Evra, who joined Juventus in the summer, while Adnan Januzaj was handed the number 11 shirt previously occupied by Ryan Giggs, who has retired from football to become Van Gaal’s assistant manager.

Ander Herrera, the midfielder signed this summer from Athletic Bilbao, has taken number 21 in place of Angelo Henriquez, who has departed to Dinamo Zagreb on loan.

Juan Mata has been given number eight, with fellow midfielder Anderson being demoted to 28.

United confirmed on Twitter that any further new arrivals will be handed vacant shirt numbers, which could include reported target Marcos Rojo.

The Sporting Lisbon defender is being hit with disciplinary action by his club amid talk of him being wanted by Van Gaal.

Reports suggest United have made a bid of around £16million for the 24-year-old Argentina international and that Rojo has refused to train with Sporting, handed in a transfer request and asked to be allowed to join the Red Devils.

Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho has been quoted as saying that both Rojo and team-mate Islam Slimani are “subject to strong disciplinary measures” and will not play in the club’s Portuguese league opener against Academica on Saturday.

De Carvalhosaid: “They will not play next weekend. This will take as long as it takes. If something doesn’t change, you’re going to end up with the players seeing out their contracts.”

He added: “These two, in defence of our magnificent group, must be removed. They are subject to strong disciplinary measures.

“Both players have taken decisions that have caused sharp indiscipline at Sporting.”

—Meanwhile, United were last night drawn away to the MK Dons in the second round of the Capital One Cup. In last night’s two first round games, Coventry City went down 2-1 at home to Cardiff City while Sheffield United were 2-1 victors over Mansfield Town. The Red Devils are in the second round draw by virtue of finishing outside the European places in the Premier League last season.