April 1st, 2017, and the common consensus was Luke Shaw's Manchester United career was over.
The England defender had missed out on a place in United's matchday squad for the Premier League game at Old Trafford against West Brom.
At the time Jose Mourinho claimed he compared unfavourably to fellow defenders Ashley Young, Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind and that he expected more from an England international.
The latter has since left the club, Darmian has started just four league games this season and is expected to depart this summer and Young is coming to the twilight of his career.
Such was the situation with Shaw that United had a left-back on their transfer wish list with Danny Rose, Alex Sandro and Kieran Tierney all on United's radar.
Fast forward two years almost to the day and Shaw secured his third United player of the month award of the season having nailed down his position as first choice left back.
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A remarkable turn of events for the 23-year-old to not only save his United career but change the club's transfer plans in the process and it's testament to the work he has done on and off the pitch.
Before United headed off on pre-season tour to America Shaw went on his own pre-season in Dubai.
It's not unfamiliar for footballers to head to the UAE for their summer breaks, in fact it's arguably the most popular destination among the United squad, but Shaw hadn't gone there to relax.
He'd gone with United's head of strength and conditioning Gary Walker to work on his fitness and it set the tone for the new campaign.
Shaw showed a steely determination and a willing to fight for his place in the starting XI.
He'd slowly started to win Mourinho round, albeit with Mourinho's mind and his own body according to the Portuguese, and started this season as first choice left back.
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The Dubai trip was what made things click for Shaw and made the Portuguese take him more seriously.
"I was getting lots of signs and when last season ended and he told me: 'I want a fitness coach to come with me for the holidays,' I thought: 'Wow, this is a big click.' The kid was very focused on his objectives and he got what he fought for. He really fought for it," Mourinho said in October.
Shaw has missed just six Premier League games this season, one with a concussion he picked up playing for England, one through suspension, three through injury in December and then the last league game he was absent for was the win against Brighton at Old Trafford in January when he pulled out after feeling unwell in the warm up.
He will miss United's next two league games through suspension and it will be a blow for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that he is not available for selection.
His evolution from certain departure to regular starter and key player under Solskjaer have put him in contention for next month's player of the season award.
And he's certainly got Romelu Lukaku's backing.
“He’s our Player of the Season. For us, from the start of the season until now he’s been the most consistent," Lukaku said last month.
Not only is the defender one of the favourites to win an individual honour at next month's awards but left back is no longer a main priority for United when the transfer window opens at the end of the season which is testament to how far he's come.
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