Leeds loanee Conor Shaughnessy struggling to prove point to Bielsa

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Conor Shaughnessy left Leeds United on loan during the January transfer window.

Joining Hearts on loan in January looked to be a good move for Leeds youngster Conor Shaughnessy after a difficult spell at Elland Road.

Marcelo Bielsa has beckoned a number of the Whites’ under-23 prospects into the first-team over the course of this season, and plenty have capitalised on the chances that they have been given.

Shaughnessy’s opportunity came when Preston North End travelled to Elland Road for a Carabao Cup tie in August. Bielsa tasted defeat as Leeds boss for the first time on that night. Shaughnessy meanwhile, was replaced at half-time, and did not play for the Championship promotion-chasers again before leaving for Tynecastle several months later.

But the move north appeared to be exactly what Shaughnessy needed as he started five of the first seven games he was available for, including four games in the Scottish Premiership.

Unfortunately for the 22-year-old however, things have not taken long to turn somewhat sour. His most recent appearance saw Shaughnessy taken off after 59 minutes and he was an unused substitute in their two most recent fixtures.

The Scottish Cup tie with Partick Thistle on Monday appeared to be a good opportunity for Craig Levein to throw Shaughnessy back in. It seemed that he would be involved as he did an interview for the club’s official website earlier in the day and was amongst the players to travel to Firhill (via Hearts’ official Twitter account).

However, there was a surprise in store when the teamsheets were announced as Shaughnessy’s name was not only missing from the starting lineup, but also from the list of substitutes.

Of course, he may have been carrying a knock that may have led to a change of plan. But even if he has picked up some sort of injury, it is perhaps telling that Levein will not have needed to change his plans too drastically.

Unfortunately for Shaughnessy, he is reaching an age where it is becoming more and more difficult to argue that he is one for the future at Leeds. He has players such as Hugo Diaz, Aapo Halme and Pascal Struijk moving or already ahead of him in the pecking order at Elland Road.

Shaughnessy arguably needed the perfect loan spell at Hearts to prevent himself from remaining Leeds’s forgotten man. Now however, he appears to be in danger of becoming Hearts’ forgotten man.