Shaw’s adaptability admired by former Red

Brown added: “Normally it would be a midfielder who would fill in there [at centre-back]. I always remember Carras [Michael Carrick] would come back in the middle and he’d be excellent. Then a few times, he’d run forward and go into his midfield role and you’d be shouting: ‘Carras, get back here!’

“But Luke doesn’t seem to do that. Obviously, he’s got a defensive-like mindset and, ultimately, it’s about positional play.

“You know he reads the ball so well, he’s winning balls even before the striker gets a touch. So he’s been absolutely excellent and that’s why the gaffer has kept him in. It’s as simple as that and he probably wasn’t even thinking of doing that. But when you do that well, you know that’s an option.”