Stuart Pearce is concerned that Gareth Southgate's choice to include a Manchester United player has had a negative impact.

Gareth Southgate took a risk when he decided to include Luke Shaw in England's Euro 2024 squad, despite the left-back not having played in a competitive match since February. This decision has caused concern for former England left-back Stuart Pearce, who believes it could backfire for Southgate.

Shaw's lack of playing time means he is unlikely to feature until the quarter-finals, if at all, and is currently training separately from the rest of the squad in an effort to speed up his recovery. With Ben Chilwell out of form and favor, Southgate has had to rely on Kieran Trippier as a makeshift left-back, which has affected the balance of the team.

Pearce worries that Southgate may have made a mistake by including Shaw in the squad, especially if he is only fit for the later stages of the tournament. He believes that Shaw's absence will be a disaster for England, and questions whether Southgate received enough information from the medical staff before making his decision.

Rio Ferdinand has suggested a solution to England's left-back dilemma by moving Bukayo Saka, who has impressed in his two appearances, back into that position. However, Pearce disagrees with this idea, as he believes Saka should not be taken away from his best position and potentially have his performance affected.

Instead, Pearce suggests that Saka could be used as a left wing-back in a three-at-the-back formation, which would allow him to contribute to the attack while still providing defensive cover. Ultimately, Pearce believes that Shaw's injury has caused a problem for England, and it will be up to Southgate to find the best solution in order to advance in the tournament.

The topic of Shaw's fitness has sparked a lot of discussion and concern, and it remains to be seen how it will affect England's performance in the crucial upcoming match against Slovenia. Fans of the England team will be eagerly awaiting updates on Shaw's condition and hoping for a speedy recovery.

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