Just when you were thinking there's no hope for Luke Shaw at Manchester United, he confounds expectations. Still only 22, the left-back has played 90 minutes in four of the last five United games.

While only on the winning side once -- at Everton on New Year's Day -- Shaw can be pleased with his performances, as well as his full-game consecutive appearances. Jose Mourinho has been impressed by Shaw since he started figuring in his plans again during December, talking up his creativity and intensity.

The United manager has also emphasised Shaw's attacking intent, a quality vital for a United full-back and one which was evident when he came to Old Trafford in 2013 with Southampton and so impressed alongside another Saints player, Morgan Schneiderlin. Shaw was rapid, strong and comfortable attacking as his side outplayed United, but only drew 1-1.

It was United rather than Liverpool who signed both players for big money, yet neither move appeared to have worked out. But while the French midfielder was sold to Everton a year ago, Shaw has hung on at Old Trafford.

From Shaw's perspective, his time in Manchester has been hampered by injury. I've spoken to him every preseason and in Los Angeles this year he stressed: "I do think that I've been unlucky with injuries. My leg and now this. It was unlucky. I want to put them in the past."

Shaw had admitted that he wasn't as committed as he should have been in his first season at the club in 2014-15. More focussed, he started the second season much better before a horrific leg-break injury against PSV Eindhoven in September 2015. He came back for the 2016-17 season and started in Mourinho's first five league games, but he played poorly in the fifth at Watford, was dropped, then suffered a groin injury. He made a comeback only for a foot injury to end his season.

Perhaps understandably, he's looked rusty when he's returned in between those injuries and he was castigated by Wayne Rooney for not making an overlap in a FA Cup third round game against Wigan a year ago. Shaw's robust build can be a strength and a weakness. When match fit, he looks powerful and driven. When unfit, he looks heavy and sluggish. He'll hope to be sharp against Derby County at Old Trafford on Friday.

Luke Shaw and Jose Mourinho have endured a strained relationship at Manchester United. Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Things looked to have improved early this term when in August he turned out for United's Under-23s team. However, he didn't start a single first team game until December against CSKA Moscow in a Champions League match that had little significance.

His teammates were convinced that Mourinho didn't rate him. United have been linked with several left-backs, from Tottenham's Danny Rose who seemed keen to push himself out of the London club and get back to the north of England from where he hails. United have also watched Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon, 17. Though talented, the club will be cautious about paying so much for a teenager after the Shaw experience.

United's left-back position was seen as the weak point for the team this season. Daley Blind, a midfielder who is caught by the fastest wingers, has occupied the slot; Matteo Darmian, a right-footed right-back, too. The versatile Ashley Young has excelled there and teammates joke that he's the new Cafu, the legendary Brazilian left-back. Marcos Rojo can play there as he does for Argentina, while United have also played three at the back without a conventional left-back.

Shaw seemed to have no future at United. The club had wanted him to be the left-back for 15 years, a new Denis Irwin or Patrice Evra. They certainly thought he had the talent, though Louis van Gaal doubted he possessed the application, mental toughness or character to become a first teamer.

Mourinho seemed to share his predecessor's reservations. United are not Southampton and Shaw took some time to get his head around the size of his new club, but he also wasn't given enough minutes to acclimatise. He started 18 games in all competitions in his first season at Old Trafford, eight in his second, 17 in his third and he's at six this season. Though injuries have clearly played a part, 49 starts in three-and-a-half seasons aren't sufficient. Indications are this might be about to change.

While there were people at the club who felt Shaw needed some soft love after a difficult time under Van Gaal and a serious injury, Mourinho went for a similar approach to the Dutchman and was publicly critical of the player, which didn't always go down well in the dressing room. As Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial could testify, he wasn't the Portuguese's only target.

The Manchester United left-back has impressed during an extended run in the side. Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

United, especially Ed Woodward, want Shaw to succeed. It was Woodward who drove the £30 million deal to bring the player -- a childhood Chelsea fan -- to Old Trafford rather than to Mourinho at Stamford Bridge. Shaw became the most expensive teenager in world football, with a fantastic opportunity at United. That has yet to be fully taken.

Shaw was out of contract in June, though, as with other United players, he's had it extended, as much as making sure he doesn't lose for free as anything else.

Playing six games isn't enough to make United not look at alternatives, but if he can continue and the six become 16, then fans would love to see him rewarded -- and it'd certainly be cheaper than spending £50m on a full-back and one less position to worry about.

Shaw has worked hard and trained hard, but we've been here before with him and could have written a near identical piece a year ago. He keeps being offered another opportunity and, for now, appears to be taking it.

Let's hope he can stay injury free and play to his full ability for, as Sir Alex Ferguson once opined when he signed Patrice Evra: "With full-backs, it's like searching for a rare bird."

Shaw's performances have been all too rare, but he's making a fist of what is surely his final chance.