Manchester United defender Luke Shaw training alone at Carrington while team-mates are given time off

Luke Shaw has been placed on an individual training regime at Carrington this week while the majority of Manchester United stars are away.

A large proportion of Jose Mourinho’s squad are on international duty, while many of those not picked by their countries have been given days off.

Shaw, though, is spending a large chunk of this week being put through his paces at the club’s training base.

Wayne Rooney (left) is with the England squad and will face Juan Mata (centre) and Spain but Luke Shaw has been left to train alone at Carrington during the international break

Wayne Rooney (left) is with the England squad and will face Juan Mata (centre) and Spain but Luke Shaw has been left to train alone at Carrington during the international break

Shaw is trying to get back to full fitness ahead of United's match against Arsenal 

Shaw is trying to get back to full fitness ahead of United's match against Arsenal 

Shaw did not take any part in Manchester United's win over Swansea at the weekend

Shaw did not take any part in Manchester United's win over Swansea at the weekend

Among other things he will work with the physio, in the pool and complete a running programme this week, while Chris Smalling is also thought to be working on a foot problem at the Aon training complex in Carrington.


Both players were publicly criticised by Mourinho last weekend, the manager claiming Shaw announced himself unfit to play at Swansea on Sunday morning.

It is understood, however, that Shaw never travelled with the United squad to South Wales on Saturday, adding further mystery to Mourinho’s denouncement of the 21-year-old and defender Smalling.

‘There is a difference between the brave, who want to play at any cost, and the ones for whom a little pain can make a difference,’ Mourinho said.

Jose Mourinho was very critical of Shaw and Chris Smalling for not playing through the pain

Jose Mourinho was very critical of Shaw and Chris Smalling for not playing through the pain

‘If I were to speak with the many great football people of this team, they will say they played many times without being 100 per cent.’

Shaw has recently been suffering pain in his right leg, the one he broke in September of last year against PSV Eindhoven.

Chris Smalling (top) is another player who is training on his own and is working on his fitness

Chris Smalling (top) is another player who is training on his own and is working on his fitness

Intriguingly, it is understood Mourinho is desperate for the pair to prove their fitness ahead of next week’s clash with Arsenal at Old Trafford. Both players are expected to be available for Arsenal's visit.

Smalling has been missing from United’s last four matches and Mourinho is understood to have been in the central defender’s ear about returning to fitness.

But the 26-year-old is insistent that he will only make himself available when 100 per cent after failing to do himself justice in the humiliating 4-0 defeat by Chelsea.