The Manchester United defender Luke Shaw is expected to be out of action for “a few months” with a muscle injury. Shaw had to come off just before half-time on Sunday in the 2-1 victory at Luton, a match for which he had been a doubt. The 28-year-old left-back had been substituted at the break in the 2-1 win at Aston Villa a week earlier in what the manager, Erik ten Hag, said was a precautionary move. In a statement on Wednesday evening United said: “Luke Shaw has sustained a muscle injury and will be out for an extended period. Further assessment is still required to determine the severity but we expect him to be absent for a few months.” Shaw, who has made just 15 appearances in all competitions in an injury-interrupted season, had returned to action in January after a month out. His latest setback – a worry for the England manager, Gareth Southgate, with the European Championship finals in Germany in the summer – comes with his fellow United left-back Tyrell Malacia also out of action and with the club in January having opted to cut short Sergio Reguilon’s loan from Tottenham.