Former Manchester United skipper Rio Ferdinand believes Jose Mourinho is attempting to provoke a response from Luke Shaw .

The England left-back is fit again but has not been able to crack the Red Devils' first-team, but Ferdinand believes it is all part of Mourinho's masterplan as he looks to build a squad mentally capable of winning the Premier League, report the Manchester Evening News.

Shaw was left out of the match day squad to face Crystal Palace yesterday and has only made one appearance for the senior side this season following his return from injury.

Mourinho criticised the left-back on a number of occasions last term, even saying it was "his body, with my brain" following a good performance against Everton.

Luke Shaw of Manchester United looks on (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan also had a tough start under Mourinho but is now one of the first choice XI, and Ferdinand believes Mourinho is ready to mentally test his players in a bid to find out whether they can cope with the pressure of a title chase.

Ferdinand, who won six Premier League titles with United, told BT Sport: "It looks like he is testing them mentally. 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 10/15 minutes.

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"That's not how you win titles. You need players who are going to be brave receiving the ball, not just physically and tackling, but mentally, and saying whatever happens here going forward, I will be with you guys shoulder to shoulder."

His England teammate, Frank Lampard, insists that Mourinho wants to see single-mindedness from his players but he can put an arm around a shoulder if it is needed.

Lampard said of Mourinho: "He is so thick skinned and one track minded to win, he doesn't accept it if he doesn't see that in somebody."

Mourinho is intent on landing the title, says Rio (
Image:
Getty)

Asked about whether he can moderate his approach, the former Chelsea man added: "He can and he did it at Chelsea.

"He can do both. With Joe [Cole] he was really strong. I remember him subbing Joe and Wright-Phillips around 25 minutes into a game. It was harsh.

"But at other times he would put his arm around Joe, speak well about him in the press and give him a boost. So he can do both."

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