Faltering fullback earns plaudits after rare start in Sunderland win

SUNDERLAND, England - Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has indicated his strained relationship with fullback Luke Shaw is improving.

Shaw's future with the club has been in doubt following stinging public criticism from Mourinho, who has questioned the 21-year-old England international's commitment.

Shaw, who was signed by previous boss Louis van Gaal from Southampton in 2014 has struggled to hold down a regular place since Mourinho took charge nine months ago.

However, Shaw made a rare start in front of England manager Gareth Southgate in a 3-0 Premier League win at Sunderland on Sunday that maintained United's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League via a top-four finish.

Mourinho revealed he considered substituting Shaw at halftime as a precautionary measure after he received an early booking, but decided against it for fear it would be interpreted as another snub.

"Luke was one of a number of positive performances," Mourinho said. "He played well. The opposition was not creating big problems but he was solid and confident on the ball. He read the game well, so it was good for him.

"I thought about a halftime change, but that was too harsh for him. I wanted him to play a little bit more, so then we're 2-0 up after an hour with their crowd asking for everything and putting the referee under pressure, I didn't want to take any risks because we have no players, and we need him to be available for the next match."

Goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marcus Rashford, who netted his first league tally since September, stretched United's unbeaten league run to 21 games as it climbed to fifth, four points behind fourth-place Manchester City, with a game in hand.

Mourinho's depleted squad sustained no new injuries ahead of Thursday's Europa League quarterfinal first-leg trip to Anderlecht - a competition which offers a Champions League place to the eventual winner.

Antonio Valencia is the only one of the current casualty list likely to come into contention for the match in Belgium.

Sunderland is likely to appeal the red card shown to midfielder Seb Larsson.

However, Black Cats boss David Moyes did not use the loss of the Sweden international before halftime as an excuse for a fifth loss in six games which pushed his side closer to relegation.

The beleaguered Scot ended a turbulent week in familiar fashion, reflecting on another loss as the curtain prepares to fall on the club's 10-year top-flight stay.

Larsson earned a straight red for a tackle on Ander Herrera shortly before the interval, although replays showed the 31-year-old won the ball before making contact with his opponent.

"We'll have a look at it," Moyes said. "I don't want to make out it's the referee's fault but he (Larsson) gets the ball, he touches the ball, and there's no contact at all. It's not even a booking."

Moyes had until Monday to respond after the Football Association asked the 53-year-old for his observations over his threat to slap a female reporter following last month's draw with Burnley.

The former Everton and United boss faces a possible disrepute charge and a potential touchline ban and fine.

Sunderland's seventh match without scoring left them bottom of the standings and 10 points from safety, and Moyes added: "We won't talk about relegation until it's mathematically impossible to stay up even though there's no hiding that we're in a tough position."

Agence France-Presse