• England

Van Gaal and Hodgson make peace over Shaw

Roy Hodgson and Louis van Gaal have set aside their differences regarding the fitness of Luke Shaw, according to England Under-21s manager Gareth Southgate.

Soon after taking over at Manchester United, Van Gaal spoke of how Shaw had arrived for the club's pre-season tour of the United States lacking the fitness levels expected of him.

Roy Keane: The funny bits

• Roy Keane may well be an angry man but there are some parts of his second autobiography that unintentionally raise an laugh or two. Robbie Savage, Manchester City blue, Abba and a loo break tale are among the more amusing in The Second Half.
• Click here for the full story

England manager Hodgson later expressed his concerns about the physical condition of the 19-year-old, who has recently recovered from a hamstring injury, during the World Cup this summer.

However, Hodgson's comments angered Van Gaal, who said: "Roy Hodgson cannot judge him because I have never seen Roy Hodgson at a training session."

Southgate, though, insists the pair have put the issue behind them, and discussed whether Shaw would be better off joining the senior England squad or the Under-21 side - where he ended up - for the upcoming playoff ties against Croatia.

"Roy has spoken to him," Southgate said in The Times. "I do not think he will question [the decision], because he knows the reason for us involving him [Shaw]. Louis has spoken so much about how important the Under-21s were for the Netherlands in the summer, so I do not think there will have been an issue from the club."

Southgate said he left the discussion with Van Gaal to Hodgson as the two were already in contact over issues to do with the senior squad.

"I did not speak to Louis [about Shaw], because Roy was talking to him about [Wayne] Rooney and the players that are involved in the seniors," he said.

"I just know from the conversation I have had with Luke that [Van Gaal] was really positive about him coming and playing matches, first and foremost. It is not a case of making the squad as strong as we possibly can. We are thinking about the individuals all the time."

Roy Hodgson and Louis van Gaal have been discussing Luke Shaw and Wayne Rooney © PA Photos

Enlarge

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd