Man Utd news: Luke Shaw’s transformation makes him top contender for POTY, Romelu Lukaku claims

It was less than a year ago that his future at Old Trafford looked far from certain, with some team-mates fearing a campaign from Jose Mourinho against the full-back.

At its worst Shaw had his commitment to play through the pain barrier questioned by Mourinho, as well as his focus and ambition.

Come the end of last season it was Ashley Young who started the FA Cup at left-back, while Shaw had just two Premier League starts in the final couple of months of the season.

There was no place in England’s squad for the World Cup either so Shaw started his comeback while away on holiday.

United striker Romelu Lukaku said: “Throughout the summer we kept in touch and I remember when he was in New York he was sending me videos of him running on the treadmill.

“I was in Russia for the World Cup and I got three videos and I saw someone who was going to come back and be good. He has been brilliant since the start of the season.”

Mourinho put him back in the team and he opened up the season by winning the United player-of-the-month award for August and September.

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Lukaku reckons he will pick up the gong for the entire campaign too.

His turnaround was completed in October when he landed a new five-year deal worth £190,000-a-week.

Significantly, the deal got the green light from Mourinho. The Special One  had other battles in his squad but was at peace with Shaw.

By the time Mourinho departed, Shaw was back as a regular.

The fitness problems since his horrific broken leg in 2015 was history and he was surprising team-mates who doubted whether he could play games in quick succession.

His display against Liverpool at the weekend was among his best of the season as Mo Salah was kept quiet before the Egypt winger was eventually subbed with 11 minutes to go despite his team needing a winner.

“During the game, I’m so focused on just my job and what’s happening in the game to really sort of focus on him coming off,” Shaw said.

United were getting to grips with FOUR injuries in the first half and it needed a half-time showdown in the dressing room before Solskjaer’s side saw out the draw.

Shaw said: “We had a good chat at half-time. Everyone was going crazy. We were all very disappointed and didn’t play well at all.

“We gave too many balls away too cheaply and luckily that didn’t cost us. We said ‘relax and we just need to play our game’ and I think second half was better with a change of formation.”

It was last March when he was hooked off at half-time in an FA Cup win over Brighton, with Mourinho humiliating his player.

Shaw still reckons there is more to come from him, despite his remarkable comeback.

He said: “I think I’ve still got another level to come. I don’t think I am really at my best and I know what I can do when I’m at my best.

“Of course I am happy with how it went today but there’s still more to come from me especially and that’s me being honest.

“I feel I can do more but the only thing I need to focus on is myself, keeping myself in the right conditions and keep pushing myself every day and trying to become what I want to be.”

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