After making appearances against CSKA Moscow and Bournemouth earlier this month - and impressing in both of them - Luke Shaw must have believed he was getting his Manchester United career back on track.However, despite a good display against Bournemouth on Wednesday, he was dropped back down to the bench for the visit to West Brom this afternoon with Ashley Young returning to left-back.Over the Christmas period, though, Shaw will be hoping to play a few more appearances ahead of the hectic fixture list.And the former Southampton full-back must have been ready to come on when Antonio Valencia appeared to pull his hamstring during the second-half.It seemed logical that Jose Mourinho would bring Shaw on in the left-back position, swapping Young to right-back.However, what he did was bring Marcos Rojo on in Valencia’s place - a decision that surprised a lot of people.
And while it was just one substitution, a lot of United supporters were reading a lot into it. With the January transfer window on the horizon, they believed that Mourinho’s decision was the final straw for Shaw’s United future and he will now surely leave the club in the coming weeks.
Man Utd fans react
Check out the reaction:
After captain Valencia left the pitch, the game appeared to completely change.
The visitors had led 2-0 at that stage but, with Rojo on, West Brom hauled themselves back into the match through Gareth Barry’s goal.
They then put plenty of pressure on Mourinho’s side but couldn’t find an equaliser.
It’s unknown quite how long Valencia will be ruled out for but it seems Mourinho will be preferring Rojo to Shaw in the next few matches.