A delayed visa application meant Manchester City were without Khadija Shaw for Wednesday’s Champions League qualifier against Paris FC.
The club’s record goalscorer was a notable and surprising absentee from the matchday squad, with reports that the club had failed to lodge the paperwork in time.
City declined to confirm specifics over Shaw’s non-appearance in their first game of the season, but the PA news agency understands there are no longer-term concerns over her availability for overseas games and no further problems are anticipated.
— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) September 16, 2024
Shaw was last year’s WSL player of the season having scored 21 goals in 18 games and would have been a sure starter.
Manager Gareth Taylor made no reference to any question marks over the striker’s role in his pre-match press conference and she was featured in training on the club’s X feed in the build-up.
Former Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema, the top scorer in WSL history, made her competitive debut for City after joining in the summer.
