England

Gareth Southgate hails "powerful" Luke Shaw

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 30 August 2018

England boss Gareth Southgate hails Luke Shaw after naming the left-back in his squad for the upcoming internationals with Spain and Switzerland.

England boss Gareth Southgate has paid tribute to Manchester United defender Luke Shaw after naming the left-back in his squad for the upcoming internationals with Spain and Switzerland.

Shaw has only played once for England over the last three years, and was left out of the squad for the 2018 World Cup due to his struggles at United.

The 23-year-old has started the 2018-19 campaign in impressive fashion, however, and Southgate has said that the defender is now "back to his powerful best".

"He has had a difficult period in terms of adapting to a new club. A really horrendous injury he had to overcome," Southgate told reporters. "I'm really impressed with the physical condition that he is in.

"He had an extra edge to his game in the last couple of matches I've seen. He's shown an aggression to his play, a desire not to lose. Back to his powerful best."

England will open their UEFA Nations League campaign against Spain on September 8, before taking on Switzerland in a friendly on September 11.

Shaw has been included in the squad ahead of United teammate Ashley Young, who has been left out alongside Jamie Vardy and Gary Cahill.