Conor Shaughnessy left Leeds United on loan during the January transfer window.
Conor Shaughnessy has admitted to the Edinburgh Evening News that he did not always have the easiest time working with the Leeds coaching staff, but insisted that he hopes his loan spell at Hearts will give him the platform to play Premier League football with the Whites next season.
Hearts confirmed last month that they had taken the Whites youngster on loan for the rest of the campaign. The 22-year-old had struggled to force his way into Marcelo Bielsa’s plans despite the number of injuries that the Leeds boss has had to deal with.
He left Elland Road having not played for Leeds since August when he endured a nightmare evening in the Carabao Cup. But Shaughnessy suggested that he is learning quickly following his move.
“The manager has pulled me in a few times to have a casual chat about different situations in games, what can be done, discussing my views on why something happened and what can work better. It’s been really beneficial. I feel I’m learning with every game I play,” he told the Edinburgh Evening News. “I did that with the coaching staff at Leeds. There was a bit of difficulty with the fact it was a foreign coaching staff. They gave a lot of advice on games, training, video clips and what areas can be improved on.”
The Edinburgh Evening News reports that another loan at Tynecastle cannot be ruled out at this stage, but the Irishman has seemingly suggested that he wishes to be playing in the top flight with Leeds next year.
“We haven’t had that discussion yet. It’s just a loan until the end of the season,” he also told the Edinburgh Evening News. “I’ve got two years left on my contract at Leeds, so I’m a Hearts player until the summer and then I’m back down to try and get into the team at Leeds.
“The standard of football is quite good up here. It’s very intense. Playing games week in and week out is helping me to prepare for Championship football, or hopefully Premier League football, with Leeds next season.”
Bielsa’s side are certainly in with a chance of holding up their side of the bargain. Leeds sit second in the Championship, level on points with the current league leaders.
It could be argued that Shaughnessy stands a better chance of getting into the Whites side should they fail to get promoted. He was one of the few under-23 stalwarts that Bielsa has not included in a matchday squad since August, so he appears to have plenty of work to do to catch the Argentinian’s eye while he is out on loan.
Shaughnessy has made three appearances for Hearts since his move. He appears to have the opportunity to show his parent club that he is someone who can enjoy a long-term future at Elland Road.
But he is arguably going to have produce something special over the coming months to put himself into Bielsa’s plans if Leeds manage to get themselves promoted to the top flight.
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