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• Shaw 'devastated' by yet another injury setback

  Manchester United and England defender Luke Shaw has said that he is devastated after suffering the latest in a long line of injury issues.

  Shaw made his first appearance of the season coming off the bench in the 1-1 draw away to Ipswich Town on 24 November, which was Ruben Amorim's first game in charge.

  He has since made another substitute appearance against Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League last week and on Sunday in the 4-0 home win over Everton.

  Now a new injury, which is not thought to be related to his original calf issue, will keep him out for a few weeks.

  "It's hurting a lot having to write this as I really thought I had got through my recent struggles and was on a positive path going forwards, but unfortunately I've had a small setback," Shaw wrote in an emotional statement on his Instagram account.

  "I've been through a lot and had a lot of ups and downs, but this has definitely been my toughest period. I'm absolutely devastated, and it's extremely tough to come to terms with reality at this moment in time.

  "I understand there is going to be people frustrated, angry, disappointed and I understand all that. There is no one feeling that more than me at this moment in time.

  "But what I can promise is I will do everything I can to come back better soon to help this club achieve its ambitions this season. Thank you to everyone for the support. It really doesn't go unnoticed, and I really do appreciate it."

  Prior to his appearance at Ipswich, Shaw had not played since England's 2-1 defeat in the Euro 2024 final.

  That was his only start of the tournament, while his last start for Manchester United came in a 2-1 victory away to Luton Town in February.

• Guardiola dismisses talk of rift with Man City's De Bruyne

  Pep Guardiola has played down talk of a rift between himself and Manchester City's midfield star Kevin De Bruyne.

  The Belgian has endured another season in which he has suffered with injury, starting just four Premier League matches in 2024-25.

  But since returning from an abdominal injury that kept him out for eight weeks, De Bruyne has played a combined total of just 72 minutes across five substitute appearances.

  When he came off the bench at Anfield on Sunday, there were just 12 minutes remaining in the eventual 2-0 defeat by Liverpool.

  After both Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville suggested that 'something isn't right' between the pair in the Sky Sports coverage of the match, Guardiola defended their relationship.

  "People say I’ve got a problem with Kevin," he said. "Do you think I like to not play with Kevin? I don't want Kevin to play? The guy who has the most talent in the final third. I don’t want it? I have a personal problem with him after nine years together?

  "He’s delivered to me the biggest success to this club. I'm desperate to have his best.

  "But he's been five months injured and two months injured. He's 33 years old. He needs time to find his best."

  De Bruyne had missed from August to January of the 2023-24 season following a recurrence of the hamstring injury that forced him off in the 2023 Champions League final against Inter Milan.

  With his contract up for renewal at the end of the year, he has confirmed talks for a renewal have not yet begun as he focuses on getting fit.

  "I'd love to have Kevin in his prime, at 26 or 27," said Guardiola. "He would love it too.

  "But he is not 26 or 27 any more. He had injuries in the past, important and long ones, and he is a guy who needs to be physically fit for his space and energy.

  "It's normal, it's nature. He played a lot of games for 10 or 11 seasons.

  "I know he is desperate to help us. He gives glimpses of brilliance that only he can have."

• Amorim braced for Man United 'storm' despite positive start

  Ruben Amorim is refusing to get carried away by his start to life as Manchester United head coach, saying the "storm will come" for his side.

  United have won two and drawn one of their first three games since Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout.

  The Portuguese's first home league match resulted in a 4-0 win over Everton on Sunday, with that the first of nine games in December.

  That includes a trip to Arsenal on Wednesday, as well as visits to Manchester City and Tottenham in the league and EFL Cup respectively.

  And Amorim accepts things will not always be as rosy as they are right now.

  "We are going to have difficult moments and we will be found out in some games, I know that," he said.

  "I know it is really hard to be a Manchester United coach and say these things in press conferences.

  "We want to win all the time, no matter what, but we know we are in a different point compared to Arsenal.

  "I would like to say different things, but I have to say again, the storm will come."

  United have lost seven of their past nine Premier League away games against Arsenal and are winless in six visits to Emirates Stadium, losing the last three in a row.

  Arsenal showed faith in boss Mikel Arteta in a tough start to his tenure and that decision has more than paid off in the years since.

  "That is always important for a coach, to have that confidence," Amorim said.

  "We have to acknowledge that Manchester United is a little bit different; all the attention [journalists] put here all the time, we will try to do things a bit faster.

  "There is massive attention here and massive judgement every day."