The more squeamish might struggle to stomach certain elements of the story Luke Shaw told here at St George’s Park on Tuesday. But only when listening to the Manchester United full back reveal just how close he came not just to losing his career as a professional footballer, but losing his right leg, can one fully appreciate the hurdles he has had to overcome these past three years.
Shaw does not entirely blame the double fracture he suffered during a Champions League group match at PSV Eindhoven in September 2015. He was candid enough to admit that his long journey back to the United first team, and now the England squad, has also been made more difficult by his own lack of professionalism. The injury was a bad one, though. It has left him with two scars that serve as a daily reminder of the drastic action that had to be taken to avoid what could have been life-changing consequences.
Shaw had never spoken publicly about this before. About the two blood clots that were removed when the surgeon cut him open. About the potential complications those blood clots would have caused had he simply flown back to Manchester with the rest of the United squad. About the fact that it was six months before the doctors even felt it appropriate to tell him just how serious a situation he was in.
‘I was really close to losing my leg,’ he said. ‘I didn’t know that until six months later when the doctor told me.
‘At the time, they were thinking about flying me back. If I’d flown back, I would probably have lost my leg because of the blood clots.
‘I’ve got two scars down my leg where they had to cut it open and pull them out, the clots.
‘I feel really strong now. My right leg is as it was before the break. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t sometimes think about stopping playing football.
‘That was during my leg break. I had a very serious injury and it was very tough at times. I never sat there, speaking with my family, saying I wanted to finish.
‘It was just the fact that it was very hard for me. It went on for a long period (the rehab), doing the same things every day. I couldn’t do anything else because of the break.
‘It was frustrating, but I came out the other side. My family played a massive part in that. I had a lot of good people around me, friends and family, who helped me through it.
‘Ultimately this is what I want to be doing, playing in the biggest games possible and winning trophies. That is my motivation. I want to be recognized as one of the best full backs in the world.’
By his own admission it has taken Shaw a while to realise that. Club managers have publicly criticised him for certain lifestyle choices. And only last week Gareth Southgate, for all that he admires the hugely gifted 23-year-old footballer, said it had perhaps taken him longer than most to appreciate the dedication and professionalism required to make it at the very highest level.
Shaw concedes that after becoming the world’s most expensive teenager when he completed his transfer from Southampton to United in 2014, he got a little carried away with himself.
‘I spoke with Gareth early on,’ said Shaw. ‘In periods when everything was going really well, I may have taken my foot off the pedal and got comfortable with where I was, not carrying on to the next level.
‘That’s where I’ve changed from a kid to a man, I’ve realised that. So that’s fair, you could say (Southgate’s criticism).
‘But I’m here now. I’m back in the England squad. I have to keep going and take that on board.’
He has employed the services of a nutritionist as well as a psychologist. The latter, he said, had been vitally important in helping him return from such a serious injury.
‘I’ve not made massive changes on the nutrition side because I was always looking out on that side, but I’ve cut out some of the silly things I was doing,’ he said.
‘You guys will probably know what that is because it’s always in the news… fizzy drinks. It was in the news the other day, I don’t know how.
‘People say I was a fizzy drinker and a snack eater. It wasn’t true. But I’ve changed massively on and off the pitch.
‘I’ve matured, grown up. I’ve gone from a kid to a man now, and I know what I need to do to push myself. I want to play for Manchester United, to stay there and fight for my place, and prove my worth to the team.‘I want to do the same here now and give Gareth a headache over selection, and choices.‘I want to be the best, and become the best, and to do that you’ve got to be professional every day, minute and hour of your life. That’s what I’ve learned.
‘From the staff and people I’ve had at United over the last few years, I’ve learned a lot. I need to look forward now and keep professional, training hard and improving as a player, doing what I’m doing. Focus on that.’
A reward for his impressive start to the season under Jose Mourinho — another club manager who has not always been his biggest fan — is a return to the England squad, having played only seven minutes of international football since his injury.
Indeed, this weekend’s Nations League match against Spain will mark three years since his last England start — a European Championship qualifier against Switzerland.
‘I feel very honoured and privileged to be selected again,’ he said. ‘I feel really good, in great shape, my confidence is back. This is just the start of the season.
‘But the stuff that’s happened — my injuries, not playing, all that — is all in the past.’
Shaw nevertheless conceded that Mourinho, like Southgate, was justified in his criticism.
‘I think at times he got frustrated with me because he knew I could do better,’ he said. ‘When I look back, at times maybe he was right.
‘But I had a chat with the manager before the season and he said he wanted me to stay and fight for my place, and that motivated me a lot.
‘I’m focused on improving as a player and a person. This is the start of a new me this season.’
