England left-back Luke Shaw provided a firm response when asked whether he would be ready to start and complete the full 90 minutes in Wednesday's Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands.
The Manchester United man was controversially selected for the tournament despite seeing his 2023-24 season curtailed by a recurrence of a serious muscular injury, which he picked up in February.
Gareth Southgate admitted that Shaw would be a "long shot" for the tournament when naming his provisional squad, and he cut the left-back's teammate Harry Maguire from the ranks due to his own calf problem.
However, Shaw survived the cull from 33 to 26 players for the final tournament in Germany, but he did not earn any minutes in the group stage or last-16 victory over Slovakia, having alternated between full and individual training.
Shaw's failure to make England's first four games of the competition led to huge criticism of Southgate's decision to call him up to the squad, as with Ben Chilwell and Tyrick Mitchell also snubbed, he did not name another recognised left-back for the Euros.
Shaw "fit and ready" for semi-final
Newcastle United right-back Kieran Trippier has started at left-back throughout the tournament, but his performances have not been met with positive reviews, and a lack of threat on that flank has been apparent throughout England's campaign.
However, Shaw finally returned to national team duty for the first time in over 12 months in the quarter-final success over Switzerland, coming on in extra time and impressing on the overlap.
Amid calls for the 28-year-old to be included in the starting lineup for Wednesday's semi against the Netherlands, Shaw told the media on Monday that he was "of course" ready to play a full match but affirmed that the decision did not lie with him.
"The last four months have been really tough. At the start, I was expected to come back a lot sooner, but I went through a lot of setbacks," the injury-riddled defender said.
"It was really nice to get on the other night and get some minutes, I've been itching. Of course, I think I am [fit and ready to play 90 minutes], that is down to Gareth's decision. I feel fit and ready to go."
Shaw also revealed that he was originally due to return for either the Denmark or Slovenia group contest, only for some unforeseen complications to delay his comeback, adding: "I think before the squad got announced, we had a plan.
"The plan was to come back around the second or third game but, unfortunately, things didn't go as planned and I was pushed back a game or so. Of course, it's tough. They were really there for me, not just Gareth and Steve but the medical staff as well, I have a lot to thank them for."
Should Luke Shaw start against the Netherlands?
One would understand Southgate continuing to exercise caution over the fitness of a player who spent over four months on the treatment table, especially one that has been plagued by fitness concerns throughout his senior career.
If there are any doubts whatsoever over Shaw's condition for the semi-final, then the ex-Southampton man - even a 99% one - should not be risked, not just for England's possible sake in the final but for his own sake.
However, Shaw showed England what they have missed on the left during his Switzerland cameo, so if the medical staff are completely happy with him, a spot in the first XI should be his in Dortmund. body check tags ::
