Leeds United youngster Conor Shaughnessy has a renewed challenge to prove himself next season.
No player summed up the highs and lows of Thomas Christiansen’s Leeds United reign quite like Conor Shaughnessy.
The young Irishman was thrown into the first team in an injury crisis at the beginning of the season and outperformed expectations, prompting Leeds to abandon their search for a new centre-back.
Shaughnessy earned a four-year contract, and Christiansen looked smart for putting his faith in youth.
The 21-years-old’s season though would quickly unravel, as would Christiansen’s spell as manager.
As first team players returned, Shaughnessy slipped down the pecking order, and Christiansen experimented by playing the former Reading youngster in midfield.
It was a role he played in for the under-23s so it was not unfamiliar, but it became apparent that out of Leeds’ many midfield options, Shaughessy was arguably the worst.
He has been out injured since late January, and has not been available to new manager Paul Heckingbottom.
During that time he has quickly become a forgotten figure, due to the recent emergence of his fellow Irishman Paudie O’Connor.
O’Connor has started recent matches, again due to an injury crisis, and he has seized his chance.
He is younger than Shaughnessy, more robust, and looks like more of a natural defender.
Leeds clearly like Shaughnessy, or they would not have given him a four-year deal, but he has it all to prove when he returns for pre-season.
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