Man Utd's options to cope with Luke Shaw's injury absence

Left-back has been a troublesome position for Manchester United all season, and their issue has only worsened with the news of Luke Shaw's latest injury.

Shaw, who missed nearly three months earlier this season through injury, has limped off twice in the last two weeks and the latest blow has officially sent him back to the sidelines for what reports suggest could be a serious length of time.

Here's how United can move forward from this setback.

United have confirmed that Shaw will miss "an extended period" after picking up this muscle injury but declined to put a date on his possible return.

Reports have claimed Shaw will be lucky to return to action before the end of the season, although others believe a comeback for the final few weeks of the campaign is a feasible ending to this saga. Either way, it's bad news.

When Shaw went down earlier this season, it sent United into panic mode as their only other natural left-back, Tyrell Malacia, was also out through injury. The Dutchman suffered a knee problem in pre-season and has not been seen since, with several set-backs extending his spell away from the team.

With alarm bells ringing, United pulled the trigger on a loan deal for Tottenham's Sergio Reguilon, whose deal was terminated in January as the Red Devils, for reasons unknown, felt they were covered on the left now that Shaw was back.

Indeed, there was so much confidence that United also parted with their leading academy left-back as well. 20-year-old Alvaro Fernandez was loaned to Benfica, with both an option and a conditional obligation to make the move permanent inserted into his contract.

In hindsight, perhaps not the best move.

It was centre-back Victor Lindelof who came off the bench to replace Shaw against both Luton