JOE BERNSTEIN: Luke Shaw missed three months with a serious thigh injury, then played six games in 16 days… his hamstring strain adds more scrutiny to under-pressure Man United boss Erik ten Hag 

• Luke Shaw limped off at half-time during Man United’s 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich
• The left back has only recently returned from three months on the sidelines
• Will Marcus Rashford EVER be the real deal? Listen to It’s All Kicking Off 

As if Erik ten Hag wasn’t facing enough scrutiny, the half-time withdrawal of Luke Shaw against Bayern Munich must beg the question whether the workload on England’s left-back has been too severe given he’d only just returned from another long absence.

Shaw didn’t play any football for more than three months between August 19 and November 26 because of what was described as a serious thigh muscle injury.

Yet instead of being blooded back gently, United’s crisis – both in terms of results and other injuries – has meant the 28-year-old was asked to go from first-team inactivity to playing six matches in 16 days.

He started and lasted 76 minutes on his comeback game at Everton on November 26, then played three full sets of 90 minutes against Galatasaray, Newcastle and Chelsea, and was only given the last 11 minutes off against Bournemouth last Saturday.

It was a risk United might have felt necessary but there was an awful sense of predictability when Shaw ended a lively opening 45 minutes against Bayern by clutching his leg in discomfort and he didn’t return for the second period.

Luke Shaw limped off at half-time during Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich

It adds more pressure on Erik ten Hag who had thrown the left back straight back into action

Shaw missed three months with injury and was asked to play six games across just 16 days

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A hamstring strain is suspected.

Ten Hag said afterwards he couldn’t comment on the prognosis for either Shaw or Harry Maguire – also taken off against Bayern – until a proper assessment is made.

He must cross his fingers Shaw in particular can return quickly otherwise it may be asked why he’s played so many minutes given his recent injury record.

Of course, it is obvious why a manager should want Shaw on the pitch when United have been struggling so badly.

As a left-back, he is able to get up and down the pitch – his long-range strike forced Manuel Neuer into his most difficult save at Old Trafford – and at home to Bournemouth, ten Hag asked him to play at centre-half instead of World Cup winner Raphael Varane, a specialist in that position.

It says a lot about Shaw’s attitude and willingness to help that he’s ploughed on, possibly unable to train much between matches to keep his body ready. But the Bayern game proved one physical test too many after flogging himself Sunday-Wednesday-Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday-Tuesday in quick succession.

Ten Hag inherited a club that was understood to need a firm hand on the tiller. But whether he’s been a little too firm is now open to debate.

Players under his regime seem to be sidelined for periods. It was Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay last season, both have now been drafted back out of necessity.

This season it’s been Varane. The manager could have selected him against Bournemouth but he was an unused sub while Shaw was used again.

There were further worrying signs when Harry Maguire was also forced off in the first half

Raphael Varane was surprisingly picked by Ten Hag having been sidelined in recent months

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Now Varane is virtually the last central defender standing with Maguire and Shaw doubts for Sunday’s trip to Anfield, Lisandro Martinez a long-term casualty and Victor Lindelof missing against Bayern.

Jonny Evans, 35, might have to be drafted in to face Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.

Incredibly, the last time he wore a United shirt at Anfield, he was 24 and playing under Sir Alex Ferguson. They won 2-1 with Robin van Persie scoring a late penalty.

Before ten Hag can think about getting a result, he’s got find enough fully fit players. He must hope Shaw is back to soon to avoid any more recriminations about team selection.

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