Manchester United duo Luke Shaw and Ashley Young to play for Under 23s as they near first-team return... and left back is eyeing contract extension
- Luke Shaw is back in full training with the Manchester United squad
- Ashley Young is also nearing his return to action after a long-term injury
- The £30million left back is fighting his way back into Jose Mourinho's plans
- His contract expires at the end of the season but United have an option on him
Luke Shaw and Ashley Young are nearing a return from injury and will play for Manchester United Under 23s against Swansea next week.
Shaw has not played since damaging ligaments in his foot against Swansea in April, and Young suffered a serious hamstring injury against Celta Vigo in the Europa League in early May.
Both players returned to full training at Carrington last week and took part in a six-a-side game with the United substitutes after Jose Mourinho’s side beat West Ham at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Luke Shaw is hoping to force his way back into the Manchester United first team
Ashley Young (centre) is also back in training and both will return on Monday with the U23s
Mourinho revealed that Shaw and Young have been pencilled in to make their return to action against Swansea at Leigh Sports Village on Monday.
He said: ‘It is like a pre-season match for them. But it is good news because, when they can play with the Under 23s, it is because the last week they trained with us all week so they are both coming [back].’
Shaw expects to wrestle back his United place when fully fit, with a contract extension in the offing too.
The left back's deal runs out at the end of the season but Mourinho is likely to exercise the one-year option on a player United paid £30million for in 2014.
Mourinho has a dearth of quality options at left back with Shaw's focus now on regaining the starting spot he struggled to claim last term.
The left back has plenty to prove to Jose Mourinho after an injury-hit spell at Old Trafford and questions over his attitude
The 22-year-old was left out in the cold by his manager, who bemoaned his work ethic and rebuked him for chatting to Bournemouth players during an ill-tempered draw in March.
Shaw made just 19 appearances for United last season, yet Mourinho indicated he still has a future at Old Trafford.
'Because of his age, physicality, intensity, aggression and ability going forward, he can be the best,' he said three weeks after the incident against Bournemouth.
'But to be the best, you need to work hard and that's what he's trying to do.'
Shaw worked overtime at Carrington during the summer to fight his way back from injury and was seen completing full training with the squad before last week's Super Cup defeat by Real Madrid.
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