Jose Mourinho is 'testing' Luke Shaw by not playing him for Manchester United, insists Rio Ferdinand

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Rio Ferdinand believes Jose Mourinho is “testing” Luke Shaw by not playing him and wants him to fight for his place at Manchester United.

The 22-year-old made his return to first-team football in the Carabao Cup win over Burton Albion but has since then missed the games against Southampton, CSKA Moscow and Crystal Palace.

Mourinho has been highly critical of the left-back during his time at Old Trafford and previously said he doesn’t have the football brain to play for United at the moment.

And Ferdinand thinks it is all a challenge from Mourinho for Shaw to step up and prove himself worthy of a place in United’s first team.

“It looks like he is testing them mentally,” Ferdinand told BT Sport.

“Hit them with something – are you going to stay down or are you going to get up and fight? If you get up then he says yes, that's the type of man I want in my team.

“As players, that's what you want in your team. You don't want players who will get one hit and shy away from things.

“One bad pass in a game, shy away from taking the ball again for the next 10 or 15 minutes... that's not how you win titles.

“You need players who are going to be brave receiving the ball, not just physically but mentally, and saying whatever happens here going forward, I will be with you guys shoulder to shoulder.”