'Hopefully there are plenty more games to come'
Manchester United legend Denis Irwin has paid tribute to Luke Shaw after the experienced defender made his 300th appearance as a Red.
Shaw reached the milestone during Sunday’s important 2-1 win over Crystal Palace and our no.23 marked the occasion with a strong performance at Selhurst Park.
On Tuesday, director of football Jason Wilcox and Ruben Amorim presented Luke with a commemorative framed shirt in front of the watching squad, as has become tradition for individual moments of celebration this season.
Appearing on our latest Inside Carrington podcast, Irwin speaks positively about Shaw’s performances this season and the achievement of reaching 300 games.
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“He has been blighted with injuries, Luke, but I've got to say every manager, when he is fit, has picked him,” says Denis, one of our greatest-ever defenders.
“He has started every Premier League game this season so that tells you that Ruben is definitely backing him. He was brilliant [against Palace] and his recovery in a couple of tackles was needed by the way and particularly in the first half.
“It suits him to play in that left centre-half [role]. We know he can play the wing-back role, but relating it myself, I would have been more comfortable in that left centre-back role rather than being a wing-back. He has been fantastic for us this season.”
MILESTONES SHOULD BE MARKED
Discussing Tuesday’s presentation moment in the Carrington canteen, Irwin admits things were different in his day but he is all for celebrating such moments.
“When I got to 500 I got a little cup, a little mug kind of thing! I've still got it. David Gill and Sir Alex presented it.
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“But it's a great achievement [to play 300 games] at this football club. Everybody knows it's a massive football club, it's got a huge history and tradition.
“Anybody that plays one game for this club should be privileged and honoured that they have put the shirt on for Manchester United.
“To play 300 is fantastic and hopefully there are plenty more to come.”
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HUGE POINTS AT PALACE
Reflecting on Sunday’s win, Irwin says: “It was needed. We had a fantastic October and it feels like the season keeps being interrupted by the international breaks.
“We drew a couple at Forest and Spurs where we could have lost them and we could have won them. Then obviously the disappointment of Everton at home, so we needed that at Palace.
“It's so tight up there that we need to keep in there and hang in there. I don't like doing this because it could go pear-shaped but if you look at the next three or four games, potentially we could make another step forward.
“We are getting there gradually. I still think there will be a lot of ups and downs, but I can see progress, I really can. It was a huge win for us.”