Football
Rob Dawson, Correspondent 6y

Manchester United's Luke Shaw finds it 'annoying' to have to prove himself

LOS ANGELES -- Luke Shaw has said he wants to prove himself to manager Jose Mourinho, while adding it's "annoying" to find himself in this situation at Manchester United.

The left-back has struggled to establish himself since Mourinho arrived in 2016 and started just eight Premier League games last season.

After missing out on a place in England's World Cup squad, he is one of the few senior players on United's preseason tour of the United States.

And he is hopeful of using the opportunity -- in the absence of last season's regular left-back Ashley Young -- to his advantage.

"Of course, I'll look at it like that," Shaw told a news conference at UCLA on Wednesday. "The next five games are all about fitness, but I want to try and prove to the manager that I can be in his team, not just in these games.

"When everyone comes back and everyone is fit and ready, I still want to be that first name on the teamsheet.

"It's time for me to show him over the next four weeks what I can do and why I deserve to be in this team."

Shaw, 23, has revealed he has already held talks with Mourinho about his role next season. He has featured in just 22 of United's 76 league games since Mourinho took over as manager and the England international, who joined the club from Southampton in 2014, is keen for that to change.

Shaw said: "It's annoying for me to say I need to prove myself. But I know what I can do and that's why I'm still here. I'm sure that's what the manager thinks.

"I don't think I would still be involved right now if the manager didn't believe in me. I've had a good chat with him and I look forward to the new season and getting back to my best."

Shaw prepared for the trip to the U.S. with his own training camp in Dubai with United's head of conditioning Gary Walker.

"I did it a few seasons back with Adnan [Januzaj]," he said. "Coming into preseason it was the best I've ever felt. I felt like I needed it because the last few years I've not had a proper preseason.

"Obviously the one I came back from after my injury I had problems, and the last two I haven't really managed to get a whole preseason together.

"A year ago today, I was injured and was doing rehab.

"Now I look at it as a full preseason for me, and right now things are going really well. I feel really strong and good. I need to keep that up going into the season and prove to people why I'm here."

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