‘I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it’: Luke Shaw eyeing spot in England squad for Euro 2020 after impressing for Manchester United
- Luke Shaw is hoping his improved displays will earn him a place at Euro 2020
- The Manchester United left back hasn’t featured in England’s last 15 matches
- The 24-year-old missed out on the Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup squads
- Shaw has risen to the challenge despite the emergence of Brandon Williams
- Gareth Southgate’s side face Italy and Denmark in friendlies at the end of March
Luke Shaw hopes his improved performances for Manchester United will earn him a recall to the England squad in time for Euro 2020.
Shaw hasn’t featured in the last 15 England games under Gareth Southgate since playing against Spain in the Nations League 17 months ago.
But having missed out on the Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup squads, the 24-year-old defender is hoping he has done enough for United this season to regain a place in Southgate’s squad. England face Italy and Denmark in friendlies at the end of March.
Manchester United’s Luke Shaw is eyeing a spot in England’s squad at this summer’s Euros
Shaw will be hoping to impress England boss Gareth Southgate ahead of this summer’s Euros
‘I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it,’ admitted Shaw. ‘But, you know, I’ve got to keep working hard, keep my head down and whatever happens happens. Of course, it’s everyone’s dream to be involved in the Euros.
‘I’m just going to keep my head down, keep working. At the end the day it’s not down to me, it’s of course down to Gareth and I’ll respect whatever he decides.’
Despite facing fierce competition for his place at left-back from Brandon Williams this season, Shaw has risen to the challenge. He has also performed well on the left-hand side of a back-three and, against Watford on Sunday, filled both roles with Dan James alternating between winger and wing-back in a 3-0 win.
‘We’ve been working on it a lot in training, the new shape that we can be more compact and stronger in defence,’ added Shaw. ‘I’m really enjoying it at the moment, and I’m happy to play anywhere where the manager wants me to play.
Shaw’s last match for the Three Lions came against Spain in the Nations League 17 months ago
‘I’m really enjoying that sort of left of the three, but I’ll play anywhere and the most important thing is, you know, to help the team and to enjoy football.
‘I think I’m learning different things in that back-three role. Sometimes things that you don’t really get at left-back, maybe because you’re a bit wider, but I’m more central.
‘I was quite central against Watford. We did work on that, for me to be more central and Jamo to play that wing-back role, but obviously less defending when they had the ball.’
On the competition from Williams, he added: ‘We’ve showed that we can also play together and I love to play with him. We played a couple of times now and we played well together. I’m learning what he does and he knows what I do, so it’s a good partnership to play in.
‘But, of course, we all love competition and we all love to push each other and I’ll help him as much as he can to develop into a great player that he can be.’
Shaw has risen to the challenge following the emergence of Brandon Williams at United
Shaw also became a father for the first time in November when his partner Anouska Santos gave birth to baby son Reign.
Referring to the lack of sleep, he said: ‘It’s been tough at times, like everyone knows! But I wouldn’t change him for the world.
‘It’s the best feeling ever being a parent and he’s got a wonderful mother who is looking after him. I’m away quite a lot and I’ve got quite a lot of games, so she’s being doing it all but she’s done brilliantly.
‘We’ve got a great family around us and we’ve got a lovely maternity nurse that sometimes comes around and does the nights. Everything is really good and it’s the best feeling in the world having a kid – I’m loving it.’
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