Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has praised Luke Shaw’s form this season and shown his appreciation for two young centre-backs who are developing all the time.
Shaw has appeared in 16 of 17 fixtures across all competitions this season, only missing the Carabao Cup match at Grimsby Town in August.
Luke’s consistency has been invaluable, particularly so in recent weeks when Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire have been sidelined through injury.
In their absence, youngsters Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro have stepped up, most recently playing alongside Shaw in Monday’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.
Luke’s consistency has been invaluable, particularly so in recent weeks when Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire have been sidelined through injury.
In their absence, youngsters Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro have stepped up, most recently playing alongside Shaw in Monday’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.
Speaking during the latest Inside Carrington podcast, Ferdinand is asked about Shaw’s contribution this season and the young Reds who are learning on the job.
“I think that every facet of his game, he's solid. He's really good on the ball, one-v-one situations he's really good as well. I just think there's a calmness and there's an authority with the way he plays in the team now, at this age as well, which is really good.”
“I've always been one of those guys who said if Luke Shaw's fit, he plays, for me,”explains Rio. “I think he's either left-back or left of a three.
“I think that every facet of his game, he's solid. He's really good on the ball, one-v-one situations he's really good as well. I just think there's a calmness and there's an authority with the way he plays in the team now, at this age as well, which is really good.”
Expanding on Heaven and Yoro, Ferdinand stresses the need for patience and points to the process that our podcast co-host Phil Jones went through as a young Red.
“I think the introduction of the two young guys has been good and they're going to need time. And that's what I think that Phil could attest to this as well.
“When you come into a team - and Phil came into a more confident, winning team, which is different again - you still need time to adapt.
“You need the right senior players around you to be able to lean on you when you need it, to pick you up and pull you along when you need it. And it's critical that those young players get that within this squad, no matter how the squad's feeling.”
The latest episode of Inside Carrington is available to watch now.