Despite climbing into the top three, Manchester United receives devastating news regarding a key player.

Luke Shaw sustained an injury during the first half of the match against Crystal Palace, worrying Manchester United even as they fought back to win 2-1 on a dramatic Premier League day.

Manchester United's matchday grew darker than ever when left-back Luke Shaw was forced off the pitch in the first half of the encounter with Crystal Palace in the 28th round of the Premier League. The England international appeared to have a foot problem after just 23 minutes of play, leaving manager Michael Carrick with a difficult tactical puzzle.

Shaw was seen clutching his leg in pain following a collision with Palace defender Daniel Munoz. Unable to continue, the 28-year-old left the field visibly disappointed. The image of him shaking his head as he walked off the touchline left Red Devils fans deeply concerned, especially given Shaw's history of recurring injury struggles during his time at Old Trafford.

Shaw's departure came at a sensitive moment, with Manchester United already trailing 0-1 after Maxence Lacroix's early opener. This was a further mental blow for Shaw personally, coming in a season where he had enjoyed relative stability, starting every one of the team's Premier League matches.

Faced with this situation, Carrick was forced to bring on Noussair Mazraoui as a replacement on the left flank. Despite the adjustment, Manchester United struggled against Crystal Palace's energetic play and entered halftime a goal down. However, the turning point came early in the second half when Bruno Fernandes equalized from the penalty spot, following Lacroix's dismissal for a foul denying Matheus Cunha a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Capitalizing on the numerical advantage, the Red Devils completed the comeback with a powerful headed goal from Benjamin Sesko, sealing a 2-1 victory.

After the match, the club confirmed that detailed scans would be conducted once the squad returned to the Carrington training center. The key question is whether Shaw's injury stems from the collision with Munoz or is a recurrence of an old problem. Manchester United hopes the early substitution was merely precautionary, rather than the start of another lengthy spell on the sidelines for Shaw.

Speaking briefly to BBC Match of the Day, Carrick provided an update on Shaw and Harry Maguire, who also left the pitch in the second half following a collision: "They just weren't feeling quite right, hopefully they'll improve soon."

Nevertheless, Manchester United does have a slight advantage in terms of schedule. With no European commitments and an early exit from domestic cup competitions, the Manchester side has a lighter fixture list compared to their Big Six rivals. After hosting Newcastle United midweek, they will have an 11-day break before returning home to face Aston Villa, a period that could allow Shaw time to recover.

The medical staff at Old Trafford will undoubtedly work at full capacity to assess the severity of the injury. For Carrick, keeping Shaw available for the season's final stretch is a top priority, as the defender's balance between defensive solidity and attacking support is crucial to Manchester United's build-up play from the back.