Manchester United fullback Luke Shaw says he's embraced the diet he's been put on by the club's fitness staff.

Shaw has battled with his weight since joining United from Saints.

"A balanced diet is very important for professional footballers or even athletes, you need to know what days you need what," Shaw told the Manchester Evening News.

"You need carbs when you're getting nearer to the match and protein after to help the muscles recover quicker, but I think that you can't always eat healthy, there's going to be a day during the week, maybe after the game, you can have a bad snack.

"You can have maybe a chocolate bar or maybe even a takeaway once a month but it's always got to be after the game, not during the week when you're training towards the game."