Luke Shaw feared he wouldn’t get a kick at the Euros after suffering another injury scare during training a fortnight ago

Gareth Southgate’s gamble to move to left-back nearly backfired after Luke Shaw admitted he thought his tournament was over before he had even kicked a ball.

The defender admitted he had to undergo a scan after over-straining two weeks ago, aggravating a hamstring injury, amid fears he could be ruled out of the European Championships.

Shaw finally played a game for the first time since February when he came on as a 78th-minute substitute in Saturday’s quarter-final against Switzerland, and could now start in Wednesday’s semi-final against the Netherlands.

England did not confirm at the time how serious the fear was that the Manchester United defender missed days of training towards the end of the group stage, but Shaw, asked if he thought his tournament was over: ‘I think so, just because of what I’ve been through. I’ve worked so hard and then I was worried something like that would happen.

“But I had a scan and it wasn’t that bad, it was just a minor thing. So I knew there was a possibility to come back and play later in the tournament.

Shaw finally played for the first time since February when he came on as a substitute against Switzerland

‘Now I’m at a stage where I feel really good.’

Much has been made of the imbalance between England and the left wing, where Kieran Trippier operates at left-back.

The Newcastle veteran has done well, but the need for a natural left-footer is dire. Even if it’s just for an hour – and Shaw says he’s fit to start – Southgate should at least try to fix one of the many problems in his team.

That’s better than bringing him in as a replacement and risking him collapsing.

The manager must also decide whether to go with a three-man or four-man defence, and the temptation may be to revert to the latter to emulate the Netherlands. Either way, Shaw believes his presence would restore that balance. “I have to believe that I can help the team, make the team better,” he said. “Maybe Gareth sees that and maybe that’s why he brought me in, because he knows the qualities I have and what I can bring.

“It might improve the balance, having a left-footed player on that side. But Tripps has done really well and always has done well for his country. He’s been brilliant.”

England have yet to play well here in Germany, apart from the first half hour of their opening group match against Serbia, but they are being praised for finding a way to win, even if it sometimes felt like luck.

However, Shaw, who was part of the Brazil 2014 squad, attributes their progress to a change in mentality under Southgate.

The defender revealed he was sent for a scan after overstretching in training two weeks ago

“The difference between then and now is definitely belief,” he said, considering England were knocked out in the group stage 10 years ago. “We have a lot more belief now than ever before.”

‘To be honest, I don’t really understand the criticism (of Southgate). I think what he’s done for the country, and for us as players, he’s really taken us to the next level.

‘No manager has been as successful as he has.

‘As players we love him, he is exactly what we need, he always puts us players first.

“I owe him a lot, because he showed a lot of faith and trust by choosing me when it wasn’t necessary. Now I have to repay the trust he showed in me.”