Inverted wingers are one thing. But, as Manchester United have found out in recent weeks, inverted full-backs are something even a tactical mind as broad and as creative as Pep Guardiola’s would struggle to make work.
Victor Lindelof, during the injury-enforced absences of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, has been forced to fill in on the left in recent weeks. But, even in an era where full-backs have a tendency to drift into midfield, the primary objective is often still to provide width on the flank while making darting runs on the overlap.
Lindelof, a right footer by trade, understandably struggles to provide the same quality and threat down the flank, due to his tendency to cut back onto his right foot.
Thus, leaving Manchester United unbalanced on the left, and often leaving Marcus Rashford isolated against opposition defenders without a decoy runner stretching the pitch behind him.
Luke Shaw out injured for Manchester United and England
Stuart Pearce, a former left-back himself, fears for the England national team should Gareth Southgate be forced into deploying something similar during the upcoming European Championships.
The return of Shaw – Southgate’s ‘stand out left-back’ – cannot come soon enough, Pearce says, with Chelsea’s £50 million flyer Ben Chilwell lacking the same technical quality and both Kieran Trippier and Joe Gomez right footers a la Lindelof.
“I think Gareth, in all honesty, will have his fingers crossed that Luke Shaw will have recovered for the summer,” the Three Lions legend tells talkSPORT (23 March, 12pm). “Because we’ve had a look at varying left-backs. But Luke Shaw is the stand-out left-back.
“He will be missed if he’s not involved.”
Gareth Southgate’s ‘stand-out’ left-back
Shaw, who could yet return in time for the season’s final few weeks, was one of England’s stand-out performers during both Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup. He even opened the scoring in the former.
“We’ve been fortunate enough in previous tournaments that he’s always been in involved. And I hope that’s the case this time,” Pearce adds.
“You need a natural left-footer who doesn’t want to check in onto his right foot because you end up running down blind alleys.”
Shaw was ruled out of England selection for tonight’s friendly clash with Brazil and the fixture with Brighton in midweek.