Jose Mourinho has never been one to shy away from a little conflict or some stern comments in the press and that hasn’t changed at Manchester United. The former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager has been highly critical of some areas in his side this season, but none more than the defence and especially left-back Luke Shaw.

The former Southampton man, who arrived at Old Trafford in 2014 with a near £30m price tag around his neck, has felt the brunt of Mourinho’s focus all season – beginning when the Portuguese dug out the England international after a 3-1 defeat at Watford earlier this term.

Since then there has been little to smile about for Shaw with persistent criticism in the media from his manager and intense scrutiny over his every move.

However, whilst Mourinho has been hammering his defender in the press, it is hard to believe that the conversations they have had in person have been as cutting. Of course, Mourinho will have to tell him what he needs to improve, and there may well have been some harsh home-truths which came to light, Shaw will have known where he stood from the start.

Mourinho has done this before, even this season. His treatment of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, whilst far less extreme, in keeping them out of the team for periods has paid dividends and looks as if the same will be said for the full-back.

The manger will have known about Shaw’s talents for years, and everyone saw the form he was in before a devastating leg-break at the start of last season. Therefore, there is no use in exiling him completely and alienating player from manager, if there was no future for Shaw at Old Trafford he would have been out the door with Memphis Depay and Morgan Schneiderlin in January, no doubt about it.

Mourinho has shown Shaw what can happen when he is not at it 100% all day every day, but will back his player to the hilt time and again as long as he shows the same commitment in return.

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer and closer for the Englishman, the coming months and years could well see Shaw reach the levels expected of him when he broke into the Southampton side all those years ago.