Shaw ‘fit and ready’ to play 90 minutes for England

England defender Luke Shaw says he is fit and ready to play the full 90 minutes at Euro 2024.

Shaw, who is the only left-back in Gareth Southgate’s squad, did not play in England’s first four matches at the Euros due to a hamstring injury.

But the Manchester United player came on as a second-half substitute in the quarter-final win over Switzerland – and he says he is now ready to play a bigger role in England’s tournament.

“Of course, I think I’m fit to play the full 90 minutes,” Shaw said. “It’s up to Gareth to decide. I feel fit to play.”

Shaw came on as a substitute after 78 minutes against Switzerland, his first official game since his injury in February.

Southgate had hoped Shaw would return during Germany’s group stage, but his recovery has taken longer than expected, meaning Kieran Trippier will start at left-back.

“The last four months have been really tough,” Custom Shaw Football Jerseys said of his injury problems. “At first I expected to be back sooner but I’ve had a lot of setbacks.”

“It was great to get on the field the other night and get playing time – I’ve been itching to get on the field.

“I think before the line-up was announced we planned to make a comeback around the second or third game, but unfortunately things didn’t go to plan and I was put back a game or so.

“Of course it was tough. They’ve really been supporting me, not only Gareth and Steve (England assistant coaches) but also the medical staff. I’m very grateful to them.”

When England reached their second successive Euro semi-final, Shaw had to sit on the sidelines and watch the game.

The 28-year-old has been so focussed on his recovery that he even pulled out of a scheduled press conference ahead of the match against Switzerland because he didn’t want to do media interviews before returning to the field.

“It’s strange,” he said of his Euro 2024 experience. “It’s also difficult, going to the matches and taking in the atmosphere. It was hard not to put on the jersey or be part of the games, but it motivated me even more to go back and work hard.

“The atmosphere of those games motivated me.

“I’m certainly happy to be back but the priority is to help us get back in the game and win.”

Without Shaw, England have not always been impressive at Euro 2024 – drawing their final two group games before falling behind in both knockout rounds so far.

But brilliant equalisers scored by Jude Bellingham against Slovakia and Bukayo Saka against Switzerland helped the team progress.

Shaw knows what it’s like to score an important goal at a European Championship – he opened the scoring for Cheap England Football Jerseys with a powerful overhead kick three minutes from time in the Euro 2020 final against Italy.

But watching the game from the bench, he said he experienced the same pain as England fans.

“I felt more nervous watching the game than playing it, it was so tough,” he said.

“I never thought we would go out. We had to believe in it.”

“Great moments like Jude’s equaliser can happen but it depends on what we do on the pitch.

“We’re getting better game by game and there are still things we can improve on but we’re looking good.”

Shaw has become a key player under Southgate, starting every game of the 2022 World Cup, and defended the criticism Southgate has received for his selection and style of play.

“I don’t understand the criticism,” Shaw said of Southgate, who has become the first coach to lead England to three major tournament semi-finals.

“Everything he has done for the country and for us as players has taken us to the next level. No coach has been as successful as him recently.”

“We players love him – he’s exactly the kind of guy we need. He gets the best out of us on the pitch. He showed a lot of confidence and trust when he chose me.”