Shaw and De Ligt miss Man Utd training for rest, report says

Luke Shaw and Matthijs de Ligt were not involved in Manchester United training on Wednesday morning ahead of their Champions League meeting with Sabah. The club indicated both were on a designated rest day, according to Simon Peach.

A scheduled rest day typically reflects workload management rather than a fresh fitness concern. An absence from a visible session does not, on its own, rule either player out of the matchday squad, and availability often becomes clear only as kick-off approaches.

The update arrived as United stepped up preparations for the tie with Sabah, with the session part of the final build-up. The report did not reference timings for the game or any other selection details from the workout.

Designated rest days are commonly built into a training microcycle to manage cumulative load between fixtures. Players can be held out of pitch work while focusing on recovery and conditioning, allowing coaches to balance readiness with risk.

No further detail on Shaw or De Ligt’s individual programmes was provided. The report adds that the club framed their absence as planned recovery rather than a concern, which suggests any involvement will hinge on routine selection calls.

As usual, the clearest indication of availability will come through official club communications closer to kick-off, including the publication of the travelling group or the team sheet on the day.