Ever since Louis van Gaal branded Luke Shaw overnight in the summer of 2014, the tag has followed the England left-back around like a bad smell.
Shaw made his competitive debut for Manchester United four years ago this month but his reputation as a fizzy-drink guzzler and snack scoffer refused to budge.
Now, the 23-year-old is a man on a mission. Shaw trained in Dubai in the summer and watched England compete at the World Cup on television, making him hungrier for success.
So far, it is showing in his Premier League performances. He has enjoyed three starts under Jose Mourinho, consistently delivered in difficult circumstances and caught the eye of Gareth Southgate.
Shaw has looked like a player with a point to prove, perhaps to himself as well as his critics.
In United’s opening game against Leicester, only three players in red got into double figures in kilometres for distance run. Shaw was one of those, covering 10.1km, while he also ran 9.1km and 10.3km against Brighton and Tottenham respectively.
After attempting six dribbles and completing them all, Shaw has a 100 per cent success rate – the only defender with such a stellar ratio. The £27million signing from Southampton also sits inside the top 10 for chances created by those at the back.
Given Shaw joined United at the age of 18, making him the most expensive teenager in world football at the time, it is easy to forget he is still just 23.
Time is on his side, though the United full-back went into this season knowing it was a make-or-break year for him at Old Trafford.
His contract expires in the summer and when United broached the subject of an extension in June, his camp wanted to see whether his situation improves first.
The most Premier League appearances Shaw has made in a red shirt to date is 16 – in his debut campaign in 2014-15. A horrific double leg fracture suffered in September 2015 robbed him of a year but, now fully fit, the full-back will want to appear at least 20 times this season.
In United’s 3-0 loss to Tottenham, the performance of Shaw was one of the few positives. Some deemed it the only positive, in fact. He played as a wing-back – a position where you need to be fit to cover the ground – and kept Kieran Trippier busy.
He forced his way forward, limiting Trippier’s ability to attack and, despite having been publicly criticised by Mourinho previously, looked like one of the few playing for his manager.
Southgate took note. Shaw has been named in the squad for Spain and Switzerland and the Three Lions boss said: ‘I am really impressed with the physical condition that he looks in.
‘He had an extra edge to his game in the last couple of matches. I have seen when games have been going against his team, he is one who has shown an aggression to his play and a desire not to lose. He looks like he is playing with confidence. He is looking back to his powerful best.’
When Shaw arrived at United, it was expected the left-back position would be his territory for years to come, yet one thing or another has worked against him. He endured injuries and serious knocks to his confidence, but the England hopeful has shown a never-say-die attitude.
There is still some way to go in the resurgence of Shaw, but already we are seeing a player finally showing signs of his true Premier League potential. So far, so good.