Gareth Southgate has demonstrated that he will support players who have never failed him, and this could be a crucial factor in saving Luke Shaw's career.

In the coming days, England will compete in the Nations League against Italy and Germany for the last time before the World Cup in November. The matches will take place in Germany and Italy. Gareth Southgate has unavoidably been the target of criticism from various quarters due to the selection of the squad he led. This is as natural as rivers flowing into the sea.

The fact that he chose players despite the fact that they did not perform well for their clubs or did not even participate in games is likely to be the most contentious issue this time around. The players Shaw and Harry Maguire, Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell, Tammy Abraham, and Jarrod Bowen from Manchester United have not been performing well at all, and the players Kalvin Phillips and Kyle Walker from Manchester City have both been injured over the past few weeks. They have all been given the green light, in contrast to United's Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, who have been left behind.

While it is easy to understand why people are frustrated, it is unfair to criticize Southgate given everything he has accomplished with England. It isn't just about players who are doing really well for their clubs; it's about the ones who are best suited to this team, the players who do the jobs he wants doing out on the pitch; the ones who have always delivered and taken England to the semi-finals and final of the two most recent major tournaments. In other words, it isn't just about players who are doing really well for their clubs.

The introduction of a large number of new players at this stage, when the competition is so close, would run the risk of disrupting the harmony of the team and throwing off the balance of the team spirit that has been developed. Experimentation is not something that should be done at this time.

Therefore, Shaw and Maguire will continue to serve in their respective roles in the squad. Sancho and Rashford are still on the bench for the time being.

Since their stellar performances at Euro 2020, neither defender for United has been anywhere near as good as they were, and that poor form has carried over into the new season. They were not alone, but still had big hands to play in the opening defeats to Brighton and Brentford, and ever since their removals from the starting XI, United have won every game in the Premier League. They were not alone, but still had big hands to play in the opening defeats to Brighton and Brentford.

Shaw was replaced by Tyrell Malacia, a new player who joined the team over the summer and has taken to the Premier League like a hungry dog to a bone. In recent games, the young Dutchman has provided a much more composed and assured presence at the back, and it does not appear that he will be losing his spot any time soon.

However, Shaw is in a position to make a compelling argument to Erik ten Hag about why he should during the break for international play. With only Chilwell, who has never been Southgate's first choice, and Kieran Trippier, who is a right-back by trade for competition, there is a good chance that Shaw will start at least one of the upcoming games. Shaw has a history of starting for Southgate whenever he is available. Chilwell has never been Southgate's first choice.

Shaw has the opportunity to show Ten Hag that he is over his slump and still has a lot to offer the Dutchman if he is able to reproduce the excellent performances that he had for the Three Lions during the international break, which will take place against stiff competition. Shaw's success at United began to improve after Alex Telles was brought in to provide competition; this improvement has been multiplied by ten since Malacia's arrival.

It is hoped that this will motivate Shaw to improve his performance once again, and that he will be able to kickstart a bid to get back into the starting XI for international duty.