Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has always had the potential to be one of the world’s finest full-backs, according to his team-mate Romelu Lukaku.
The England international managed to subdue Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah at Old Trafford over the weekend, to help the Red Devils earn a 0-0 draw in the Premier League.
United made three first-half substitutions in the match, which forced caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to throw out his original tactical plan.
Ander Herrera limped off first and Juan Mata quickly followed, before his replacement Jesse Lingard was also hauled off after exacerbating a pre-existing injury.
Liverpool saw plenty of the ball as a result but, with Salah unable to find a way past Shaw on the left-hand side, Jurgen Klopp’s men failed to create any clear-cut chances.
Lukaku managed to play the full 90 minutes himself and, after the match, he reflected on Shaw’s outstanding contribution over the course of the 2018-19 campaign so far, while also revealing how much work he put in during pre-season.
“He has been brilliant since the start of the season,” Lukaku began, as per the Manchester Evening News.
“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 scored in the first game of the season against Leicester City and he has never looked back. He can play two games in a week now.”
Shaw initially struggled to adapt to life at Old Trafford after his 2014 move from Southampton, most notably facing criticism from former boss Jose Mourinho for a perceived lack of effort and fitness.
The 23-year-old won over the Portuguese boss during the first half of the season, however, to emerge as one of the team’s most consistent performers during a difficult spell.
Since Solskjaer was appointed on a temporary basis in Mourinho’s stead, Shaw has continued his rapid progress and Lukaku believes he is now fulfilling his immense potential.
“He has always had the potential of being one of the best left-backs in the world,” the Belgian added.