Phil Hay has written in The Athletic that the Leeds United bosses rate Jamie Shackleton highly.
The well-known and well-respected journalist, who now works as the Leeds United correspondent for The Athletic, has written that the Premier League club’s chiefs genuinely think highly of the 21-year-old, who can operate as a central midfielder or as a right-back.
Hay wrote in The Athletic: “They like Shackleton, genuinely. They rate him highly. But he’s never been able to get himself a long run in the team and he’s been unlucky with injuries too.
“On top of that, Bielsa seems inclined to use him as much as a right-back as a midfielder, and central midfielder is the position Shackleton sees as his best. He does need to start making a little more progress.”
Jamie Shackleton Stats
According to WhoScored, Shackleton has made three starts and nine substitute appearances in the Premier League for Leeds so far this season.
During the 2019-20 campaign, the 21-year-old made five starts and 17 substitute appearances in the Championship, and made four starts and 17 substitute appearances in the Championship for the Whites in 2018-19, according to WhoScored.
Leeds United stay or go out on loan?
Kalvin Phillips is the best central midfielder in the Leeds team, and Shackleton is unlikely to displace the England international.
If the 21-year-old wants to play as a central midfielder on a regular basis, then he may have to go out on loan next season.
However, working with Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa would make the English youngster better.
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