It remains to be seen if Lewie Coyle has a future at Leeds United after spending the last two years out on loan.
Lewie Coyle will likely return to Leeds this summer with a question mark lingering over his future after spending the previous two years out on loan.
Coyle was superb during his spells with Fleetwood Town. There were a number of supporters who urged the League One club to pursue a permanent deal if they got a sense that Leeds may be ready to let him go.
Unfortunately for Coyle, it would probably not be a huge surprise if Marcelo Bielsa was willing to listen to offers for the 23-year-old this summer. Luke Ayling is back to his best, and he also has a number of players who have filled in at right-back throughout the campaign.
The player who has arguably provided the most impressive cover for Ayling has been Jamie Shackleton. The midfielder’s displays have provided no indication that he only made his professional debut this season, or that he has been used out of his preferred position when picked in defence.
At one stage, it appeared that the 19-year-old may be the man to push Coyle closer to the Elland Road exit. But perhaps, after his latest performance, it may be fair to suggest that Shackleton could have just handed Coyle a lifeline ahead of his return this summer.
Shackleton was outstanding against Derby County in the first-leg of Leeds’ play-off semi-final. He replaced Adam Forshaw during the first-half, and left many fans imploring Bielsa to start him from now on, regardless of whether Forshaw is fit or not.
While Bielsa is not going to forget his ability to play at right-back, Shackleton establishing himself as a key man in midfield would surely open the door for Coyle slightly.
There are still options such as Gaetano Berardi and Stuart Dallas available to Bielsa, while Bryce Hosannah is amongst those looking to push through from the academy. But Coyle is good enough to be ahead of all of those players in the pecking order.
And while Ayling does not look like he is going to open the door for any of his rivals anytime soon, Coyle has the ability to make the most of any chance that comes his way further down the line if he is willing to bide his time.
So given how the fans reacted to his display, perhaps Shackleton’s performance against Derby may prove to not only be a defining moment in his career, but also in Coyle’s.
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