Luke Shaw’s decisive display in Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest has intensified debate about England’s World Cup plans, with Michael Carrick insisting the full-back “certainly” merits a place in Thomas Tuchel’s squad despite strong competition for defensive spots.

Shaw opened the scoring at Old Trafford before Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo added further United goals in the Premier League victory, extending a season in which Shaw has started every league match and delivered the consistency that Carrick believes should put Shaw firmly in England contention.

England manager Thomas Tuchel is due to confirm the squad for the summer’s World Cup on Friday, and Shaw, now 30, is seen as an outsider because Shaw has not appeared for the Three Lions during Tuchel’s tenure, despite strong club form and a regular starting role at left-back.

The defensive hierarchy currently favours Manchester City’s Nico O’Reilly, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, Tottenham’s Djed Spence and Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, while Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo are the other Manchester United players viewed as strong candidates for Tuchel’s group heading to the tournament.

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When asked whether Shaw had earned a call-up, Carrick said: “I haven’t got much sway in the matter at all, but I certainly think so. Again, the consistency, just what he’s capable of doing. The performance, the experience, his strengths, his attributes that he’s got. For me, yeah, he’s a fantastic full-back. Between them, I think all three of them [United’s England options]have done their chances no harm recently, for sure.”

Shaw’s World Cup case is supported by improved fitness after long-term injury problems across Shaw’s career; this season Shaw has avoided major setbacks, enabling a sustained run of starts that Carrick views as evidence Shaw can handle tournament intensity for England.

Against Forest, Shaw scored in the league for the first time since a January 2023 strike against Bournemouth, ending a 73-game Premier League spell without a goal, and becoming the first Manchester United player whose first four Premier League goals for the club all came under different managers: Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag and Carrick.

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Carrick highlighted how Shaw’s run of games reflects better self-management and maturity, pointing to Shaw’s long spell at Old Trafford, understanding of the club’s demands and experience of both successful periods and difficult stretches during Shaw’s time with Manchester United.

“To start every game is a really fantastic thing to be able to do,” Carrick continued. “Next season is a new season. There’s different types of runs of games, so that’s part of adapting. But then that’s also being a little bit older and [having] experience in knowing your body and managing things. He’s at that stage now, Luke, where he’s got an awful lot of experience. He’s been here for a long time, he knows the club, he know what it feels like, he’s known the ups and he’s suffered some of the more challenging times. So, next seasonhis experience will be valuable, however many games he plays.”

With Tuchel’s announcement approaching, Shaw’s consistent domestic form, unique scoring record under four Manchester United managers, and Carrick’s public backing place Shaw, Maguire and Mainoo in a strong position, yet final decisions rest with Tuchel as England’s World Cup squad picture becomes clearer.