Jamie Shackleton was undoubtedly one of Leeds United’s best players as they headed to the top of the Championship.
Shackleton was not initially meant to start the game at the Liberty Stadium. However, the 18-year-old was promoted from the bench at the last minute as Liam Cooper sustained an injury in the warm-up that ruled the skipper out of the fixture.
It was the youngster’s first start in the league for the Whites, and of course, it came at right-back which is a role that he has only recently started to learn about having come through the ranks as a midfielder. Nevertheless, the teenager was superb, providing the assist for the first goal with a brilliant run into the box and cross for Kemar Roofe.
And after the game, Whelan suggested that he was delighted with what he saw from the youngster in the clash with the Swans on Tuesday night.
“It wasn’t the greatest start for Leeds, having to rejig and Cooper getting injured in the warm up and then having to shuffle people around, Ayling into centre-half, the left-hand side, which is not his natural side because he’s a right-footer, and then bring the young lad Shackleton in, who I thought against Bolton in the Carabao Cup was excellent and he carried that on this evening, did not disappoint given that responsibility down the right-hand side,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.
“Well done to him because he’s the one that really catapulted Leeds before half-time, getting that equaliser with that drive into the 18-yard box and really showing some intent.”
It says an incredible amount about Shackleton’s emergence that he is genuinely threatening to put a bit of pressure on Luke Ayling at right-back. Ayling is clearly still the best option in that position in the squad, but Shackleton is already doing a tremendous job of pushing his teammate.
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