Luke Shaw has revealed he almost lost his right leg after suffering an horrific double fracture three years ago.
The Manchester United defender, back in the England squad this week, was left nursing the terrible injury after being clattered by PSV Eindhoven's Hector Moreno with what Louis van Gaal, then manager at Old Trafford, described as a 'very bad tackle'.
The Mexican caught left back Shaw's standing leg during a Champions League game in September 2015. United lost the match 2-1.
Now Shaw, called up by England manager Gareth Southgate this week after making a fine start to the new season with United, has spoken for the first time about how near he came to needing an amputation.
'I was really close to losing my leg,' he said. 'I didn't know that until six months later when the doctor told me.'
Luke Shaw suffered a double fracture of his right leg at PSV Eindhoven in September 2015
The left back came close to losing not just his career but also his leg after the incident
The more squeamish might struggle to stomach certain elements of the story Luke Shaw told here at St George's Park on Tuesday.
But only when listening to the Manchester United full back reveal just how close he came not just to losing his career as a professional footballer, but losing his right leg, can one fully appreciate the hurdles he has had to overcome these past three years.
Shaw does not entirely blame the double fracture he suffered during a Champions League group match at PSV Eindhoven in September 2015.
He was candid enough to admit that his long journey back to the United first team, and now the England squad, has also been made more difficult by his own lack of professionalism.
The injury was a bad one, though. It has left him with two scars that serve as a daily reminder of the drastic action that had to be taken to avoid what could have been life-changing consequences.
Shaw had never spoken publicly about this before. About the two blood clots that were removed when the surgeon cut him open.
About the potential complications those blood clots would have caused had he simply flown back to Manchester with the rest of the United squad.
About the fact that it was six months before the doctors even felt it appropriate to tell him just how serious a situation he was in.
He revealed at St George's Park on Tuesday that two blood clots had to be removed
Shaw is candid enough to admit his lack of professionalism has made recovery more difficult
'I was really close to losing my leg,' he said. 'I didn't know that until six months later when the doctor told me.
'At the time, they were thinking about flying me back. If I'd flown back, I would probably have lost my leg because of the blood clots.
'I've got two scars down my leg where they had to cut it open and pull them out, the clots.
'I feel really strong now. My right leg is as it was before the break. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't sometimes think about stopping playing football.
'That was during my leg break. I had a very serious injury and it was very tough at times. I never sat there, speaking with my family, saying I wanted to finish.
'It was just the fact that it was very hard for me. It went on for a long period (the rehab), doing the same things every day. I couldn't do anything else because of the break.
'It was frustrating, but I came out the other side. My family played a massive part in that. I had a lot of good people around me, friends and family, who helped me through it.
'Ultimately this is what I want to be doing, playing in the biggest games possible and winning trophies. That is my motivation. I want to be recognised as one of the best full backs in the world.'
Shaw admits he got a little carried away after becoming the world's most expensive teenager
Shaw has employed the services of a nutritionist as well as a psychologist to help him
By his own admission it has taken Shaw a while to realise that. Club managers have publicly criticised him for certain lifestyle choices.
And only last week Gareth Southgate, for all that he admires the hugely gifted 23-year-old footballer, said it had perhaps taken him longer than most to appreciate the dedication and professionalism required to make it at the very highest level.
Shaw concedes that after becoming the world's most expensive teenager when he completed his transfer from Southampton to United in 2014, he got a little carried away with himself.
'I spoke with Gareth early on,' said Shaw. 'In periods when everything was going really well, I may have taken my foot off the pedal and got comfortable with where I was, not carrying on to the next level.
'That's where I've changed from a kid to a man, I've realised that. So that's fair, you could say (Southgate's criticism).
'But I'm here now. I'm back in the England squad. I have to keep going and take that on board.'
He has employed the services of a nutritionist as well as a psychologist. The latter, he said, had been vitally important in helping him return from such a serious injury.
Shaw concedes that United boss Jose Mourinho has been justified in his criticism of him
The Nations League match against Spain will mark three years since his last England start
'I've not made massive changes on the nutrition side because I was always looking out on that side, but I've cut out some of the silly things I was doing,' he said.
'You guys will probably know what that is because it's always in the news... fizzy drinks. It was in the news the other day, I don't know how.
'People say I was a fizzy drinker and a snack eater. It wasn't true. But I've changed massively on and off the pitch.
'I've matured, grown up. I've gone from a kid to a man now, and I know what I need to do to push myself. I want to play for Manchester United, to stay there and fight for my place, and prove my worth to the team.
'I want to do the same here now and give Gareth a headache over selection, and choices.
'I want to be the best, and become the best, and to do that you've got to be professional every day, minute and hour of your life. That's what I've learned.
'From the staff and people I've had at United over the last few years, I've learned a lot. I need to look forward now and keep professional, training hard and improving as a player, doing what I'm doing. Focus on that.'
A reward for his impressive start to the season under Jose Mourinho — another club manager who has not always been his biggest fan — is a return to the England squad, having played only seven minutes of international football since his injury.
Shaw celebrates scoring his first United goal in the opening day win over Leicester
His England call-up last week was reward for his impressive start to the season at Old Trafford
Indeed, this weekend's Nations League match against Spain will mark three years since his last England start — a European Championship qualifier against Switzerland.
'I feel very honoured and privileged to be selected again,' he said. 'I feel really good, in great shape, my confidence is back. This is just the start of the season.
'But the stuff that's happened — my injuries, not playing, all that — is all in the past.'
Shaw nevertheless conceded that Mourinho, like Southgate, was justified in his criticism.
'I think at times he got frustrated with me because he knew I could do better,' he said. 'When I look back, at times maybe he was right.
'But I had a chat with the manager before the season and he said he wanted me to stay and fight for my place, and that motivated me a lot.
'I'm focused on improving as a player and a person. This is the start of a new me this season.'
Link articlehttps://hienalouca.com/2018/09/05/manchester-united-left-back-luke-shaw-nearly-lost-his-leg/
Main photo article Luke Shaw has revealed he almost lost his right leg after suffering an horrific double fracture three years ago.
The Manchester United defender, back in the England squad this week, was left nursing the terrible injury after being clattered by PSV Eindhoven’s Hector Moreno with what Louis...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Sport HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/04/21/4FB1BF1F00000578-0-image-a-16_1536093563865.jpg
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