Stuart Pearce fears Gareth Southgate’s decision to gamble on the fitness of Luke Shaw is likely to end in ‘disaster’.
The Manchester United left-back hasn’t played a single minute of competitive football since February but still made England’s 26-man Euro 2024 squad.
Shaw appears unlikely to play until the quarter-final stage, at the earliest, however, and continues to train separately to the rest of the squad in an attempt to speed up his rehabilitation.
With Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell out of form and out of favour, Southgate has had little option but to deploy Kieran Trippier as a makeshift left-back which has only added to the lopsided nature of England’s set-up in their opening two games.
With Shaw almost certain to miss next week’s decisive Group C clash against Slovenia, former England left-back Pearce is concerned Southgate has made an error of judgement.
‘If Luke Shaw isn’t fit then it’s a disaster as far as England are concerned,’ Pearce told. Footy Accumulators.
‘There was an outside chance of him being fit and available when bringing him to the tournament and obviously Gareth Southgate would’ve had guidance from the medical staff.
‘But if he is only fit for the last 16 or the quarter-final then I think that’s too far down the line for a player that hasn’t played since February.
‘I think it was worth the gamble taking him, England just need him in the team.’
In an attempt to cure the problem, Rio Ferdinand suggested Southgate to move Bukayo Saka back into the left-back role in which he started his senior Arsenal career.
‘I wouldn’t play Bukayo Saka at left-back because I wouldn’t want to take him away from what he does best,’ argued Pearce. ‘Over the two games Saka has been England’s best player alongside Guehi.
‘So to take a player out of a position that he’s one of your better players and water him down and put him as a left back, I’d wouldn’t be brave enough to move him into left back if I’m being quite honest with you.
‘But maybe as a left wing-back, potentially, if you play a three at the back.’